C3b/C4b complement receptor-like molecules and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

Novel C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also provides vectors, host cells, selective binding agents, and methods for producing C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. Also provided for are methods for the treatment, diagnosis, amelioration, or prevention of diseases with C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/222,438 filed Aug. 1, 2000 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to novel C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also relates to vectors, host cells, pharmaceutical compositions, selective binding agents and methods for producing C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptides. Also provided for are methods for the diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of diseases associated with C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Technical advances in the identification, cloning, expression and manipulation of nucleic acid molecules and the deciphering of the human genome have greatly accelerated the discovery of novel therapeutics. Rapid nucleic acid sequencing techniques can now generate sequence information at unprecedented rates and, coupled with computational analyses, allow the assembly of overlapping sequences into partial and entire genomes and the identification of polypeptide-encoding regions. A comparison of a predicted amino acid sequence against a database compilation of known amino acid sequences allows one to determine the extent of homology to previously identified sequences and/or structural landmarks. The cloning and expression of a polypeptide-encoding region of a nucleic acid molecule provides a polypeptide product for structural and functional analyses. The manipulation of nucleic acid molecules and encoded polypeptides may confer advantageous properties on a product for use as a therapeutic.

[0004] In spite of the significant technical advances in genome research over the past decade, the potential for the development of novel therapeutics based on the human genome is still largely unrealized. Many genes encoding potentially beneficial polypeptide therapeutics, or those encoding polypeptides, which may act as “targets” for therapeutic molecules, have still not been identified.

[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to identify novel polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same, which have diagnostic or therapeutic benefit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to novel C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like nucleic acid molecules and encoded polypeptides.

[0007] The invention provides for an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0008] (a) the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3;

[0009] (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0010] (c) a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under moderately or highly stringent conditions to the complement of (a) or (b), wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and

[0011] (d) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of (a)-(c).

[0012] The invention also provides for an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0013] (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide that is at least about 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99 percent identical to the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0014] (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding an allelic variant or splice variant of the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0015] (c) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, (a), or (b) encoding a polypeptide fragment of at least about 25 amino acid residues, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0016] (d) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, or (a)-(c) comprising a fragment of at least about 16 nucleotides;

[0017] (e) a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under moderately or highly stringent conditions to the complement of any of (a)-(d), wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and

[0018] (f) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of (a)-(e).

[0019] The invention further provides for an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0020] (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one conservative amino acid substitution, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0021] (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one amino acid insertion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0022] (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one amino acid deletion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0023] (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 which has a C- and/or N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0024] (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one modification selected from the group consisting of amino acid substitutions, amino acid insertions, amino acid deletions, C-terminal truncation, and N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0025] (f) a nucleotide sequence of (a)-(e) comprising a fragment of at least about 16 nucleotides;

[0026] (g) a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under moderately or highly stringent conditions to the complement of any of (a)-(f), wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and

[0027] (h) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of (a)-(e).

[0028] The invention also provides for an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0029] (a) an amino acid sequence of the mature C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, and optionally further comprises an amino-terminal methionine;

[0030] (b) an amino acid sequence for an ortholog of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0031] (c) an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99 percent identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0032] (d) a fragment of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 comprising at least about 25 amino acid residues, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0033] (e) an amino acid sequence for an allelic variant or splice variant of either the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, or at least one of (a)-(c) wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

[0034] The invention further provides for an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0035] (a) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one conservative amino acid substitution, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0036] (b) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one amino acid insertion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0037] (c) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one amino acid deletion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4;

[0038] (d) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 which has a C- and/or N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and

[0039] (e) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, with at least one modification selected from the group consisting of amino acid substitutions, amino acid insertions, amino acid deletions, C-terminal truncation, and N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

[0040] Also provided are fusion polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequences of (a)-(e) above.

[0041] The present invention also provides for an expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecules as set forth herein, recombinant host cells comprising recombinant nucleic acid molecules as set forth herein, and a method of producing an C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide comprising culturing the host cells and optionally isolating the polypeptide so produced.

[0042] A transgenic non-human animal comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding an C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide is also encompassed by the invention. The C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like nucleic acid molecules are introduced into the animal in a manner that allows expression and increased levels of the C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide, which may include increased circulating levels. The transgenic non-human animal is preferably a mammal.

[0043] Also provided are derivatives of the C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptides of the present invention.

[0044] Additionally provided are selective binding agents such as antibodies and peptides capable of specifically binding the C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptides of the invention. Such antibodies and peptides may be agonistic or antagonistic.

[0045] Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the nucleotides, polypeptides, or selective binding agents of the present invention and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable formulation agents are also encompassed by the invention. The pharmaceutical compositions are used to provide therapeutically effective amounts of the nucleotides or polypeptides of the present invention. The invention is also directed to methods of using the polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules, and selective binding agents.

[0046] The C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be used to treat, prevent, ameliorate, and/or detect diseases and disorders, including those recited herein.

[0047] The present invention also provides a method of assaying test molecules to identify a test molecule which binds to an C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide. The method comprises contacting an C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide with a test molecule and determining the extent of binding of the test molecule to the polypeptide. The method further comprises determining whether such test molecules are agonists or antagonists of an C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide. The present invention further provides a method of testing the impact of molecules on the expression of C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide or on the activity of C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide.

[0048] Methods of regulating expression and modulating (i.e., increasing or decreasing) levels of an C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide are also encompassed by the invention. One method comprises administering to an animal a nucleic acid molecule encoding an C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide. In another method, a nucleic acid molecule comprising elements that regulate or modulate the expression of an C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide may be administered. Examples of these methods include gene therapy, cell therapy, and anti-sense therapy as further described herein.

[0049] The C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like polypeptide can be used for identifying ligands thereof. Various forms of “expression cloning” have been used for cloning ligands for receptors. See e.g., Davis et al., Cell, 87:1161-1169 (1996). These and other C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like ligand cloning experiments are described in greater detail herein. Isolation of the C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like ligand(s) allows for the identification or development of novel agonists and/or antagonists of the C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like signaling pathway. Such agonists and antagonists include C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like ligand(s), anti-C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like ligand antibodies and derivatives thereof, small molecules, or antisense oligonucleotides, any of which can be used for potentially treating one or more diseases or disorders, including those recited herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0050]FIG. 1 depicts a nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) encoding human C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like Protein. Also depicted is the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) of human C3B/C4b Complement Receptor-like Protein.

[0051]FIG. 2 depicts a nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) encoding mouse C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like Protein. Also depicted is the amino acid sequence of mouse C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like protein (SEQ ID NO:4).

[0052]FIG. 3 depicts an amino acid comparison of human C3b/C4b Complement Receptor (SEQ ID NO:2) and human AGP-03144 (SEQ ID NO:5).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. All references cited in this application are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

[0054] Definitions

[0055] The term “C3b/C4b Complement Receptor-like” is abbreviated herein as “C3b/C4b CR-like” and is also referred to as “AGP-03144”. The terms “C3b/C4b CR-like gene” or “C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecule” or “polynucleotide” refers to a nucleic acid molecule comprising or consisting of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, and nucleic acid molecules as defined herein.

[0056] The term “C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide” refers to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, and related polypeptides. Related polypeptides include: C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide allelic variants, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide orthologs, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide splice variants, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variants and C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide derivatives. C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may be mature polypeptides, as defined herein, and may or may not have an amino terminal methionine residue, depending on the method by which they are prepared.

[0057] The term “C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide allelic variant” refers to one of several possible naturally occurring alternate forms of a gene occupying a given locus on a chromosome of an organism or a population of organisms.

[0058] The term “C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide derivatives” refers to the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide allelic variants, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide orthologs, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide splice variants, or C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variants, as defined herein, that have been chemically modified.

[0059] The term “C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide fragment” refers to a polypeptide that comprises a truncation at the amino terminus (with or without a leader sequence) and/or a truncation at the carboxy terminus of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide allelic variants, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide orthologs, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide splice variants and/or an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variant having one or more amino acid additions or substitutions or internal deletions (wherein the resulting polypeptide is at least 6 amino acids or more in length) as compared to the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4. C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide fragments may result from alternative RNA splicing or from in vivo protease activity. For transmembrane or membrane-bound forms of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, preferred fragments include soluble forms such as those lacking a transmembrane or membrane-binding domain. In preferred embodiments, truncations comprise about 10 amino acids, or about 20 amino acids, or about 50 amino acids, or about 75 amino acids, or about 100 amino acids, or more than about 100 amino acids. The polypeptide fragments so produced will comprise about 25 contiguous amino acids, or about 50 amino acids, or about 75 amino acids, or about 100 amino acids, or about 150 amino acids, or about 200 amino acids. Such C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide fragments may optionally comprise an amino terminal methionine residue. It will be appreciated that such fragments can be used, for example, to generate antibodies to C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides.

[0060] The term “C3b/C4b CR-like fusion polypeptide” refers to a fusion of one or more amino acids (such as a heterologous peptide or polypeptide) at the amino or carboxy terminus of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide allelic variants, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide orthologs, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide splice variants, or C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variants having one or more amino acid deletions, substitutions or internal additions as compared to the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

[0061] The term “C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide ortholog” refers to a polypeptide from another species that corresponds to C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4. For example, mouse and human C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides are considered orthologs of each other.

[0062] The term “C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide splice variant” refers to a nucleic acid molecule, usually RNA, which is generated by alternative processing of intron sequences in an RNA transcript of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

[0063] The term “C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variants” refers to C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides comprising amino acid sequences having one or more amino acid sequence substitutions, deletions (such as internal deletions and/or C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide fragments), and/or additions (such as internal additions and/or C3b/C4b CR-like fusion polypeptides) as compared to the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 (with or without a leader sequence). Variants may be naturally occurring (e.g., C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide allelic variants, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide orthologs and C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide splice variants) or artificially constructed. Such C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variants may be prepared from the corresponding nucleic acid molecules having a DNA sequence that varies accordingly from the DNA sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3. In preferred embodiments, the variants have from 1 to 3, or from 1 to 5, or from 1 to 10, or from 1 to 15, or from 1 to 20, or from 1 to 25, or from 1 to 50, or from 1 to 75, or from 1 to 100, or more than 100 amino acid substitutions, insertions, additions and/or deletions, wherein the substitutions may be conservative, or non-conservative, or any combination thereof.

[0064] The term “antigen” refers to a molecule or a portion of a molecule capable of being bound by a selective binding agent, such as an antibody, and additionally capable of being used in an animal to produce antibodies capable of binding to an epitope of that antigen. An antigen may have one or more epitopes.

[0065] The term “biologically active C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides” refers to C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides having at least one activity characteristic of the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

[0066] The terms “effective amount” and “therapeutically effective amount” each refer to the amount of a C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecule used to support an observable level of one or more biological activities of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides as set forth herein.

[0067] The term “expression vector” refers to a vector which is suitable for use in a host cell and contains nucleic acid sequences which direct and/or control the expression of heterologous nucleic acid sequences. Expression includes, but is not limited to, processes such as transcription, translation, and RNA splicing, if introns are present.

[0068] The term “host cell” is used to refer to a cell which has been transformed, or is capable of being transformed with a nucleic acid sequence and then of expressing a selected gene of interest. The term includes the progeny of the parent cell, whether or not the progeny is identical in morphology or in genetic make-up to the original parent, so long as the selected gene is present.

[0069] The term “identity” as known in the art, refers to a relationship between the sequences of two or more polypeptide molecules or two or more nucleic acid molecules, as determined by comparing the sequences. In the art, “identity” also means the degree of sequence relatedness between nucleic acid molecules or polypeptides, as the case may be, as determined by the match between strings of two or more nucleotide or two or more amino acid sequences. “Identity” measures the percent of identical matches between the smaller of two or more sequences with gap alignments (if any) addressed by a particular mathematical model or computer program (i.e., “algorithms”).

[0070] The term “similarity” is a related concept, but in contrast to “identity”, refers to a measure of similarity which includes both identical matches and conservative substitution matches. If two polypeptide sequences have, for example, 10/20 identical amino acids, and the remainder are all non-conservative substitutions, then the percent identity and similarity would both be 50%. If in the same example, there are 5 more positions where there are conservative substitutions, then the percent identity remains 50%, but the percent similarity would be 75% (15/20). Therefore, in cases where there are conservative substitutions, the degree of similarity between two polypeptides will be higher than the percent identity between those two polypeptides.

[0071] The term “isolated nucleic acid molecule” refers to a nucleic acid molecule of the invention that (1) has been separated from at least about 50 percent of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates or other materials with which it is naturally found when total DNA is isolated from the source cells, (2) is not linked to all or a portion of a polynucleotide to which the “isolated nucleic acid molecule” is linked in nature, (3) is operably linked to a polynucleotide which it is not linked to in nature, or (4) does not occur in nature as part of a larger polynucleotide sequence. Preferably, the isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is substantially free from any other contaminating nucleic acid molecule(s) or other contaminants that are found in its natural environment that would interfere with its use in polypeptide production or its therapeutic, diagnostic, prophylactic or research use.

[0072] The term “isolated polypeptide” refers to a polypeptide of the present invention that (1) has been separated from at least about 50 percent of polynucleotides, lipids, carbohydrates or other materials with which it is naturally found when isolated from the source cell, (2) is not linked (by covalent or noncovalent interaction) to all or a portion of a polypeptide to which the “isolated polypeptide” is linked in nature, (3) is operably linked (by covalent or noncovalent interaction) to a polypeptide with which it is not linked in nature, or (4) does not occur in nature. Preferably, the isolated polypeptide is substantially free from any other contaminating polypeptides or other contaminants that are found in its natural environment that would interfere with its therapeutic, diagnostic, prophylactic or research use.

[0073] The term “mature C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide” refers to an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide lacking a leader sequence. A mature C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide may also include other modifications such as proteolytic processing of the amino terminus (with or without a leader sequence) and/or the carboxy terminus, cleavage of a smaller polypeptide from a larger precursor, N-linked and/or O-linked glycosylation, and the like.

[0074] The term “nucleic acid sequence” or “nucleic acid molecule” refers to a DNA or RNA sequence. The term encompasses molecules formed from any of the known base analogs of DNA and RNA such as, but not limited to 4-acetylcytosine, 8-hydroxy-N6-methyladenosine, aziridinyl-cytosine, pseudoisocytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, 5-carboxy-methylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, inosine, N6-iso-pentenyladenine, 1-methyladenine, 1-methylpseudouracil, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethyl-guanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-methyladenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxyamino-methyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarbonyl-methyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid, oxybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, N-uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, and 2,6-diaminopurine.

[0075] The term “naturally occurring” or “native” when used in connection with biological materials such as nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, host cells, and the like, refers to materials which are found in nature and are not manipulated by man. Similarly, “non-naturally occurring” or “non-native” as used herein refers to a material that is not found in nature or that has been structurally modified or synthesized by man.

[0076] The term “operably linked” is used herein to refer to an arrangement of flanking sequences wherein the flanking sequences so described are configured or assembled so as to perform their usual function. Thus, a flanking sequence operably linked to a coding sequence may be capable of effecting the replication, transcription and/or translation of the coding sequence. For example, a coding sequence is operably linked to a promoter when the promoter is capable of directing transcription of that coding sequence. A flanking sequence need not be contiguous with the coding sequence, so long as it functions correctly. Thus, for example, intervening untranslated yet transcribed sequences can be present between a promoter sequence and the coding sequence and the promoter sequence can still be considered “operably linked” to the coding sequence.

[0077] The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” or “physiologically acceptable carrier” as used herein refers to one or more formulation materials suitable for accomplishing or enhancing the delivery of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecule or C3b/C4b CR-like selective binding agent as a pharmaceutical composition.

[0078] The term “selective binding agent” refers to a molecule or molecules having specificity for an C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide. As used herein, the terms, “specific” and “specificity” refer to the ability of the selective binding agents to bind to human C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides and not to bind to human non-C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. It will be appreciated, however, that the selective binding agents may also bind orthologs of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, that is, interspecies versions thereof, such as mouse and mouse polypeptides.

[0079] The term “transduction” is used to refer to the transfer of genes from one bacterium to another, usually by a phage. “Transduction” also refers to the acquisition and transfer of eukaryotic cellular sequences by retroviruses.

[0080] The term “transfection” is used to refer to the uptake of foreign or exogenous DNA by a cell, and a cell has been “transfected” when the exogenous DNA has been introduced inside the cell membrane. A number of transfection techniques are well known in the art and are disclosed herein. See, for example, Graham et al., Virology, 52:456 (1973); Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, a laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories (New York, 1989); Davis et al., Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, Elsevier, 1986; and Chu et al., Gene, 13:197 (1981). Such techniques can be used to introduce one or more exogenous DNA moieties into suitable host cells.

[0081] The term “transformation” as used herein refers to a change in a cell's genetic characteristics, and a cell has been transformed when it has been modified to contain a new DNA. For example, a cell is transformed where it is genetically modified from its native state. Following transfection or transduction, the transforming DNA may recombine with that of the cell by physically integrating into a chromosome of the cell, may be maintained transiently as an episomal element without being replicated, or may replicate independently as a plasmid. A cell is considered to have been stably transformed when the DNA is replicated with the division of the cell.

[0082] The term “vector” is used to refer to any molecule (e.g., nucleic acid, plasmid, or virus) used to transfer coding information to a host cell.

[0083] Relatedness of Nucleic Acid Molecules and/or Polypeptides

[0084] It is understood that related nucleic acid molecules include allelic or splice variants of the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, and include sequences which are complementary to any of the above nucleotide sequences. Related nucleic acid molecules also include a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising or consisting essentially of a substitution, modification, addition and/or a deletion of one or more amino acid residues compared to the polypeptide in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

[0085] Fragments include molecules which encode a polypeptide of at least about 25 amino acid residues, or about 50, or about 75, or about 100, or greater than about 100 amino acid residues of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

[0086] In addition, related C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecules include those molecules which comprise nucleotide sequences which hybridize under moderately or highly stringent conditions as defined herein with the fully complementary sequence of the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, or of a molecule encoding a polypeptide, which polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, or of a nucleic acid fragment as defined herein, or of a nucleic acid fragment encoding a polypeptide as defined herein. Hybridization probes may be prepared using the C3b/C4b CR-like sequences provided herein to screen cDNA, genomic or synthetic DNA libraries for related sequences. Regions of the DNA and/or amino acid sequence of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide that exhibit significant identity to known sequences are readily determined using sequence alignment algorithms as described herein and those regions may be used to design probes for screening.

[0087] The term “highly stringent conditions” refers to those conditions that are designed to permit hybridization of DNA strands whose sequences are highly complementary, and to exclude hybridization of significantly mismatched DNAs. Hybridization stringency is principally determined by temperature, ionic strength, and the concentration of denaturing agents such as formamide. Examples of “highly stringent conditions” for hybridization and washing are 0.015M sodium chloride, 0.0015M sodium citrate at 65-68° C. or 0.015M sodium chloride, 0.0015M sodium citrate, and 50% formamide at 42° C. See Sambrook, Fritsch & Maniatis, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 1989); Anderson et al., Nucleic Acid Hybridisation: a practical approach, Ch. 4, IRL Press Limited (Oxford, England).

[0088] More stringent conditions (such as higher temperature, lower ionic strength, higher formamide, or other denaturing agent) may also be used, however, the rate of hybridization will be affected. Other agents may be included in the hybridization and washing buffers for the purpose of reducing non-specific and/or background hybridization. Examples are 0.1% bovine serum albumin, 0.1% polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 0.1% sodium dodecylsulfate (NaDodSO₄ or SDS), ficoll, Denhardt's solution, sonicated salmon sperm DNA (or other non-complementary DNA), and dextran sulfate, although other suitable agents can also be used. The concentration and types of these additives can be changed without substantially affecting the stringency of the hybridization conditions. Hybridization experiments are usually carried out at pH 6.8-7.4, however, at typical ionic strength conditions, the rate of hybridization is nearly independent of pH. See Anderson et al., Nucleic Acid Hybridisation: a Practical Approach, Ch. 4, IRL Press Limited (Oxford, England).

[0089] Factors affecting the stability of a DNA duplex include base composition, length, and degree of base pair mismatch. Hybridization conditions can be adjusted by one skilled in the art in order to accommodate these variables and allow DNAs of different sequence relatedness to form hybrids. The melting temperature of a perfectly matched DNA duplex can be estimated by the following equation:

T _(m)(° C.)=81.5+16.6(log[Na+])+0.41(%G+C)−600/N −0.72(%formamide)

[0090] where N is the length of the duplex formed, [Na+] is the molar concentration of the sodium ion in the hybridization or washing solution, %G+C is the percentage of (guanine+cytosine) bases in the hybrid. For imperfectly matched hybrids, the melting temperature is reduced by approximately 1° C. for each 1% mismatch.

[0091] The term “moderately stringent conditions” refers to conditions under which a DNA duplex with a greater degree of base pair mismatching than could occur under “highly stringent conditions” is able to form. Examples of typical “moderately stringent conditions” are 0.015M sodium chloride, 0.0015M sodium citrate at 50-65° C. or 0.015M sodium chloride, 0.0015M sodium citrate, and 20% formamide at 37-50° C. By way of example, a “moderately stringent” condition of 50° C. in 0.015 M sodium ion will allow about a 21% mismatch.

[0092] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there is no absolute distinction between “highly” and “moderately” stringent conditions. For example, at 0.015M sodium ion (no formamide), the melting temperature of perfectly matched long DNA is about 71° C. With a wash at 65° C. (at the same ionic strength), this would allow for approximately a 6% mismatch. To capture more distantly related sequences, one skilled in the art can simply lower the temperature or raise the ionic strength.

[0093] A good estimate of the melting temperature in 1M NaCl* for oligonucleotide probes up to about 20 nt is given by:

Tm=2° C. per A−T base pair+4° C. per G−C base pair

[0094] *The sodium ion concentration in 6× salt sodium citrate (SSC) is 1M. See Suggs et al., Developmental Biology Using Purified Genes, p. 683, Brown and Fox (eds.) (1981).

[0095] High stringency washing conditions for oligonucleotides are usually at a temperature of 0-5° C. below the Tm of the oligonucleotide in 6× SSC, 0.1% SDS.

[0096] In another embodiment, related nucleic acid molecules comprise or consist of a nucleotide sequence that is about 70 percent identical to the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, or comprise or consist essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide that is about 70 percent identical to the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4. In preferred embodiments, the nucleotide sequences are about 75 percent, or about 80 percent, or about 85 percent, or about 90 percent, or about 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99 percent identical to the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, or the nucleotide sequences encode a polypeptide that is about 75 percent, or about 80 percent, or about 85 percent, or about 90 percent, or about 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99 percent identical to the polypeptide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

[0097] Differences in the nucleic acid sequence may result in conservative and/or non-conservative modifications of the amino acid sequence relative to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.

[0098] Conservative modifications to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 (and the corresponding modifications to the encoding nucleotides) will produce C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides having functional and chemical characteristics similar to those of naturally occurring C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. In contrast, substantial modifications in the functional and/or chemical characteristics of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may be accomplished by selecting substitutions in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 that differ significantly in their effect on maintaining (a) the structure of the molecular backbone in the area of the substitution, for example, as a sheet or helical conformation, (b) the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site, or (c) the bulk of the side chain.

[0099] For example, a “conservative amino acid substitution” may involve a substitution of a native amino acid residue with a nonnative residue such that there is little or no effect on the polarity or charge of the amino acid residue at that position. Furthermore, any native residue in the polypeptide may also be substituted with alanine, as has been previously described for “alanine scanning mutagenesis.”

[0100] Conservative amino acid substitutions also encompass non-naturally occurring amino acid residues which are typically incorporated by chemical peptide synthesis rather than by synthesis in biological systems. These include peptidomimetics, and other reversed or inverted forms of amino acid moieties.

[0101] Naturally occurring residues may be divided into classes based on common side chain properties:

[0102] 1) hydrophobic: norleucine, Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile;

[0103] 2) neutral hydrophilic: Cys, Ser, Thr, Asn, Gln;

[0104] 3) acidic: Asp, Glu;

[0105] 4) basic: His, Lys, Arg;

[0106] 5) residues that influence chain orientation: Gly, Pro; and

[0107] 6) aromatic: Trp, Tyr, Phe.

[0108] For example, non-conservative substitutions may involve the exchange of a member of one of these classes for a member from another class. Such substituted residues may be introduced into regions of the human C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide that are homologous with non-human C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide orthologs, or into the non-homologous regions of the molecule.

[0109] In making such changes, the hydropathic index of amino acids may be considered. Each amino acid has been assigned a hydropathic index on the basis of their hydrophobicity and charge characteristics, these are: isoleucine (+4.5); valine (+4.2); leucine (+3.8); phenylalanine (+2.8); cysteine/cystine (+2.5); methionine (+1.9); alanine (+1.8); glycine (−0.4); threonine (−0.7); serine (−0.8); tryptophan (−0.9); tyrosine (−1.3); proline (−1.6); histidine (−3.2); glutamate (−3.5); glutamine (−3.5); aspartate (−3.5); asparagine (−3.5); lysine (−3.9); and arginine (−4.5).

[0110] The importance of the hydropathic amino acid index in conferring interactive biological function on a protein is understood in the art. Kyte et al., J. Mol. Biol., 157:105-131 (1982). It is known that certain amino acids may be substituted for other amino acids having a similar hydropathic index or score and still retain a similar biological activity. In making changes based upon the hydropathic index, the substitution of amino acids whose hydropathic indices are within ±2 is preferred, those which are within ±1 are particularly preferred, and those within +0.5 are even more particularly preferred.

[0111] It is also understood in the art that the substitution of like amino acids can be made effectively on the basis of hydrophilicity, particularly where the biologically functionally equivalent protein or peptide thereby created is intended for use in immunological embodiments, as in the present case. The greatest local average hydrophilicity of a protein, as governed by the hydrophilicity of its adjacent amino acids, correlates with its immunogenicity and antigenicity, i.e., with a biological property of the protein.

[0112] The following hydrophilicity values have been assigned to amino acid residues: arginine (+3.0); lysine (+3.0); aspartate (+3.0±1); glutamate (+3.0±1); serine (+0.3); asparagine (+0.2); glutamine (+0.2); glycine (0); threonine (−0.4); proline (−0.5±1); alanine (−0.5); histidine (−0.5); cysteine (−1.0); methionine (−1.3); valine (−1.5); leucine (−1.8); isoleucine (−1.8); tyrosine (−2.3); phenylalanine (−2.5); tryptophan (−3.4). In making changes based upon similar hydrophilicity values, the substitution of amino acids whose hydrophilicity values are within ±2 is preferred, those which are within ±1 are particularly preferred, and those within +0.5 are even more particularly preferred. One may also identify epitopes from primary amino acid sequences on the basis of hydrophilicity. These regions are also referred to as “epitopic core regions.”

[0113] Desired amino acid substitutions (whether conservative or non-conservative) can be determined by those skilled in the art at the time such substitutions are desired. For example, amino acid substitutions can be used to identify important residues of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, or to increase or decrease the affinity of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides described herein.

[0114] Exemplary amino acid substitutions are set forth in Table I. TABLE I Amino Acid Substitutions Original Exemplary Preferred Residues Substitutions Substitutions Ala Val, Leu, Ile Val Arg Lys, Gln, Asn Lys Asn Gln Gln Asp Glu Glu Cys Ser, Ala Ser Gln Asn Asn Glu Asp Asp Gly Pro, Ala Ala His Asn, Gln, Lys, Arg Arg Ile Leu, Val, Met, Ala, Leu Phe, Norleucine Leu Norleucine, Ile, Ile Val, Met, Ala, Phe Lys Arg, 1,4 Diamino- Arg butyric Acid, Gln, Asn Met Leu, Phe, Ile Leu Phe Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, Leu Tyr Pro Ala Gly Ser Thr, Ala, Cys Thr Thr Ser Ser Trp Tyr, Phe Tyr Tyr Trp, Phe, Thr, Ser Phe Val Ile, Met, Leu, Phe, Leu Ala, Norleucine

[0115] A skilled artisan will be able to determine suitable variants of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 using well known techniques. For identifying suitable areas of the molecule that may be changed without destroying activity, one skilled in the art may target areas not believed to be important for activity. For example, when similar polypeptides with similar activities from the same species or from other species are known, one skilled in the art may compare the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide to such similar polypeptides. With such a comparison, one can identify residues and portions of the molecules that are conserved among similar polypeptides. It will be appreciated that changes in areas of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide that are not conserved relative to such similar polypeptides would be less likely to adversely affect the biological activity and/or structure of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. One skilled in the art would also know that, even in relatively conserved regions, one may substitute chemically similar amino acids for the naturally occurring residues while retaining activity (conservative amino acid residue substitutions). Therefore, even areas that may be important for biological activity or for structure may be subject to conservative amino acid substitutions without destroying the biological activity or without adversely affecting the polypeptide structure.

[0116] Additionally, one skilled in the art can review structure-function studies identifying residues in similar polypeptides that are important for activity or structure. In view of such a comparison, one can predict the importance of amino acid residues in an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide that correspond to amino acid residues that are important for activity or structure in similar polypeptides. One skilled in the art may opt for chemically similar amino acid substitutions for such predicted important amino acid residues of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides.

[0117] One skilled in the art can also analyze the three-dimensional structure and amino acid sequence in relation to that structure in similar polypeptides. In view of that information, one skilled in the art may predict the alignment of amino acid residues of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide with respect to its three dimensional structure. One skilled in the art may choose not to make radical changes to amino acid residues predicted to be on the surface of the protein, since such residues may be involved in important interactions with other molecules. Moreover, one skilled in the art may generate test variants containing a single amino acid substitution at each desired amino acid residue. The variants can then be screened using activity assays know to those skilled in the art. Such variants could be used to gather information about suitable variants. For example, if one discovered that a change to a particular amino acid residue resulted in destroyed, undesirably reduced, or unsuitable activity, variants with such a change would be avoided. In other words, based on information gathered from such routine experiments, one skilled in the art can readily determine the amino acids where further substitutions should be avoided either alone or in combination with other mutations.

[0118] A number of scientific publications have been devoted to the prediction of secondary structure. See Moult J., Curr. Op. in Biotech., 7(4): 422-427 (1996), Chou et al., Biochemistry, 13(2): 222-245 (1974); Chou et al., Biochemistry, 113(2): 211-222 (1974); Chou et al., Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Areas Mol. Biol., 47:45-148 (1978); Chou et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem., 47:251-276 and Chou et al., Biophys. J., 26:367-384 (1979). Moreover, computer programs are currently available to assist with predicting secondary structure. One method of predicting secondary structure is based upon homology modeling. For example, two polypeptides or proteins which have a sequence identity of greater than 30%, or similarity greater than 40% often have similar structural topologies. The recent growth of the protein structural data base (PDB) has provided enhanced predictability of secondary structure, including the potential number of folds within a polypeptide's or protein's structure. See Holm et al., Nucl. Acid. Res., 27(1): 244-247 (1999). It has been suggested (Brenner et al., Curr. Op. Struct. Biol., 7(3): 369-376 (1997)) that there are a limited number of folds in a given polypeptide or protein and that once a critical number of structures have been resolved, structural prediction will gain dramatically in accuracy.

[0119] Additional methods of predicting secondary structure include “threading” (Jones, D., Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol., 7(3): 377-87 (1997); Sippl et al., Structure, 4(1): 15-9 (1996)), “profile analysis” (Bowie et al., Science, 253:164-170 (1991); Gribskov et al., Meth. Enzym., 183:146-159 (1990); Gribskov et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 84(13): 4355-4358 (1987)), and “evolutionary linkage” (See Home, supra, and Brenner, supra)

[0120] Preferred C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variants include glycosylation variants wherein the number and/or type of glycosylation sites has been altered compared to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4. In one embodiment, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variants comprise a greater or a lesser number of N-linked glycosylation sites than the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4. An N-linked glycosylation site is characterized by the sequence: Asn-X-Ser or Asn-X-Thr, wherein the amino acid residue designated as X may be any amino acid residue except proline. The substitution(s) of amino acid residues to create this sequence provides a potential new site for the addition of an N-linked carbohydrate chain. Alternatively, substitutions which eliminate this sequence will remove an existing N-linked carbohydrate chain. Also provided is a rearrangement of N-linked carbohydrate chains wherein one or more N-linked glycosylation sites (typically those that are naturally occurring) are eliminated and one or more new N-linked sites are created. Additional preferred C3b/C4b CR-like variants include cysteine variants, wherein one or more cysteine residues are deleted from or substituted for another amino acid (e.g., serine) as compared to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4. Cysteine variants are useful when C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides must be refolded into a biologically active conformation such as after the isolation of insoluble inclusion bodies. Cysteine variants generally have fewer cysteine residues than the native protein, and typically have an even number to minimize interactions resulting from unpaired cysteines.

[0121] In addition, the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 or a C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variant may be fused to a homologous polypeptide to form a homodimer or to a heterologous polypeptide to form a heterodimer. Heterologous peptides and polypeptides include, but are not limited to: an epitope to allow for the detection and/or isolation of an C3b/C4b CR-like fusion polypeptide; a transmembrane receptor protein or a portion thereof, such as an extracellular domain, or a transmembrane and intracellular domain; a ligand or a portion thereof which binds to a transmembrane receptor protein; an enzyme or portion thereof which is catalytically active; a polypeptide or peptide which promotes oligomerization, such as a leucine zipper domain; a polypeptide or peptide which increases stability, such as an immunoglobulin constant region; and a polypeptide which has a therapeutic activity different from the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 or an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variant.

[0122] Fusions can be made either at the amino terminus or at the carboxy terminus of the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 or an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variant. Fusions may be direct with no linker or adapter molecule or indirect using a linker or adapter molecule. A linker or adapter molecule may be one or more amino acid residues, typically up to about 20 to about 50 amino acid residues. A linker or adapter molecule may also be designed with a cleavage site for a DNA restriction endonuclease or for a protease to allow for the separation of the fused moieties. It will be appreciated that once constructed, the fusion polypeptides can be derivatized according to the methods described herein.

[0123] In a further embodiment of the invention, the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 or an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variant is fused to one or more domains of an Fc region of human IgG. Antibodies comprise two functionally independent parts, a variable domain known as “Fab”, which binds antigen, and a constant domain known as “Fc”, which is involved in effector functions such as complement activation and attack by phagocytic cells. An Fc has a long serum half-life, whereas an Fab is short-lived. Capon et al., Nature, 337:525-31 (1989). When constructed together with a therapeutic protein, an Fc domain can provide longer half-life or incorporate such functions as Fc receptor binding, protein A binding, complement fixation and perhaps even placental transfer. Id. Table II summarizes the use of certain Fc fusions known in the art. TABLE II Fc Fusion with Therapeutic Proteins Form of Fusion Therapeutic Fc partner implications Reference IgG1 N-terminus Hodgkin's U.S. Pat. No. of CD30-L disease; 5,480,981 anaplastic lymphoma; T-cell leukemia Murine IL-10 anti- Zheng et al. Fcγ2a inflammatory; (1995), J. transplant Immunol., 154: rejection 5590-5600 IgG1 TNF septic shock Fisher et al. receptor (1996), N. Engl. J. Med., 334: 1697-1702; Van Zee et al., (1996), J. Immunol., 156: 2221-2230 IgG, IgA, TNF inflammation, U.S. Pat. No. IgM, or receptor autoimmune 5,808,029, issued IgE disorders September 15, 1998 (excluding the first domain) IgG1 CD4 AIDS Capon et al. receptor (1989), Nature 337: 525-531 IgG1, N-terminus anti-cancer, Harvill et al. IgG3 of IL-2 antiviral (1995), Immunotech., 1: 95-105 IgG1 C-terminus osteoarthritis; WO 97/23614, of OPG bone density published July 3, 1997 IgG1 N-terminus anti-obesity PCT/US 97/23183, of leptin filed December 11, 1997 Human Ig CTLA-4 autoimmune Linsley (1991), Cγ1 disorders J. Exp. Med., 174:561-569

[0124] In one example, all or a portion of the human IgG hinge, CH2 and CH3 regions may be fused at either the N-terminus or C-terminus of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides using methods known to the skilled artisan. The resulting C3b/C4b CR-like fusion polypeptide may be purified by use of a Protein A affinity column. Peptides and proteins fused to an Fc region have been found to exhibit a substantially greater half-life in vivo than the unfused counterpart. Also, a fusion to an Fc region allows for dimerization/multimerization of the fusion polypeptide. The Fc region may be a naturally occurring Fc region, or may be altered to improve certain qualities, such as therapeutic qualities, circulation time, reduce aggregation, etc.

[0125] Identity and similarity of related nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides can be readily calculated by known methods. Such methods include, but are not limited to, those described in Computational Molecular Biology, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1988; Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York, 1993; Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, Part 1, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana Press, New Jersey, 1994; Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, von Heinje, G., Academic Press, 1987; Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., M. Stockton Press, New York, 1991; and Carillo et al., SIAM J. Applied Math., 48:1073 (1988).

[0126] Preferred methods to determine identity and/or similarity are designed to give the largest match between the sequences tested. Methods to determine identity and similarity are described in publicly available computer programs. Preferred computer program methods to determine identity and similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, the GCG program package, including GAP (Devereux et al., Nucl. Acid. Res., 12:387 (1984); Genetics Computer Group, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), BLASTP, BLASTN, and FASTA (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol., 215:403-410 (1990)). The BLASTX program is publicly available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and other sources (BLAST Manual, Altschul et al. NCB/NLM/NIH Bethesda, Md. 20894; Altschul et al., supra). The well known Smith Waterman algorithm may also be used to determine identity.

[0127] Certain alignment schemes for aligning two amino acid sequences may result in the matching of only a short region of the two sequences, and this small aligned region may have very high sequence identity even though there is no significant relationship between the two full length sequences. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the selected alignment method (GAP program) will result in an alignment that spans at least 50 contiguous amino acids of the target polypeptide.

[0128] For example, using the computer algorithm GAP (Genetics Computer Group, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), two polypeptides for which the percent sequence identity is to be determined are aligned for optimal matching of their respective amino acids (the “matched span”, as determined by the algorithm). A gap opening penalty (which is calculated as 3× the average diagonal; the “average diagonal” is the average of the diagonal of the comparison matrix being used; the “diagonal” is the score or number assigned to each perfect amino acid match by the particular comparison matrix) and a gap extension penalty (which is usually {fraction (1/10)} times the gap opening penalty), as well as a comparison matrix such as PAM 250 or BLOSUM 62 are used in conjunction with the algorithm. A standard comparison matrix (see Dayhoff et al., Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, vol. 5, supp.3 (1978) for the PAM 250 comparison matrix; Henikoff et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 89:10915-10919 (1992) for the BLOSUM 62 comparison matrix) is also used by the algorithm.

[0129] Preferred parameters for a polypeptide sequence comparison include the following:

[0130] Algorithm: Needleman et al., J. Mol. Biol., 48:443-453 (1970);

[0131] Comparison matrix: BLOSUM 62 from Henikoff et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:10915-10919 (1992);

[0132] Gap Penalty: 12

[0133] Gap Length Penalty: 4

[0134] Threshold of Similarity: 0

[0135] The GAP program is useful with the above parameters. The aforementioned parameters are the default parameters for polypeptide comparisons (along with no penalty for end gaps) using the GAP algorithm.

[0136] Preferred parameters for nucleic acid molecule sequence comparisons include the following:

[0137] Algorithm: Needleman et al., J. Mol Biol., 48:443-453 (1970);

[0138] Comparison matrix: matches=+10, mismatch=0

[0139] Gap Penalty: 50

[0140] Gap Length Penalty: 3

[0141] The GAP program is also useful with the above parameters. The aforementioned parameters are the default parameters for nucleic acid molecule comparisons.

[0142] Other exemplary algorithms, gap opening penalties, gap extension penalties, comparison matrices, thresholds of similarity, etc. may be used,, including those set forth in the Program Manual, Wisconsin Package, Version 9, September, 1997. The particular choices to be made will be apparent to those of skill in the art and will depend on the specific comparison to be made, such as DNA to DNA, protein to protein, protein to DNA; and additionally, whether the comparison is between given pairs of sequences (in which case GAP or BestFit are generally preferred) or between one sequence and a large database of sequences (in which case FASTA or BLASTA are preferred).

[0143] Synthesis

[0144] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art the nucleic acid and polypeptide molecules described herein may be produced by recombinant and other means.

[0145] Nucleic Acid Molecules

[0146] The nucleic acid molecules encode a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide can readily be obtained in a variety of ways including, without limitation, chemical synthesis, cDNA or genomic library screening, expression library screening and/or PCR amplification of cDNA.

[0147] Recombinant DNA methods used herein are generally those set forth in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), and/or Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Green Publishers Inc. and Wiley and Sons, NY (1994). The present invention provides for nucleic acid molecules as described herein and methods for obtaining the molecules.

[0148] Where a gene encoding the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide has been identified from one species, all or a portion of that gene may be used as a probe to identify orthologs or related genes from the same species. The probes or primers may be used to screen cDNA libraries from various tissue sources believed to express the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. In addition, part or all of a nucleic acid molecule having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3 may be used to screen a genomic library to identify and isolate a gene encoding the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. Typically, conditions of moderate or high stringency will be employed for screening to minimize the number of false positives obtained from the screen.

[0149] Nucleic acid molecules encoding the amino acid sequence of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may also be identified by expression cloning which employs the detection of positive clones based upon a property of the expressed protein. Typically, nucleic acid libraries are screened by the binding of an antibody or other binding partner (e.g., receptor or ligand) to cloned proteins which are expressed and displayed on a host cell surface. The antibody or binding partner is modified with a detectable label to identify those cells expressing the desired clone.

[0150] Recombinant expression techniques conducted in accordance with the descriptions set forth below may be followed to produce these polynucleotides and to express the encoded polypeptides. For example, by inserting a nucleic acid sequence which encodes the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide into an appropriate vector, one skilled in the art can readily produce large quantities of the desired nucleotide sequence. The sequences can then be used to generate detection probes or amplification primers. Alternatively, a polynucleotide encoding the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide can be inserted into an expression vector. By introducing the expression vector into an appropriate host, the encoded C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide may be produced in large amounts.

[0151] Another method for obtaining a suitable nucleic acid sequence is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this method, cDNA is prepared from poly(A)+RNA or total RNA using the enzyme reverse transcriptase. Two primers, typically complementary to two separate regions of cDNA (oligonucleotides) encoding the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, are then added to the cDNA along with a polymerase such as Taq polymerase, and the polymerase amplifies the cDNA region between the two primers.

[0152] Another means of preparing a nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide is chemical synthesis using methods well known to the skilled artisan such as those described by Engels et al., Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 28:716-734 (1989). These methods include, inter alia, the phosphotriester, phosphoramidite, and H-phosphonate methods for nucleic acid synthesis. A preferred method for such chemical synthesis is polymer-supported synthesis using standard phosphoramidite chemistry. Typically, the DATA encoding the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide will be several hundred nucleotides in length. Nucleic acids larger than about 100 nucleotides can be synthesized as several fragments using these methods. The fragments can then be ligated together to form the full length nucleotide sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. Usually, the DNA fragment encoding the amino terminus of the polypeptide will have an ATG, which encodes a methionine residue. This methionine may or may not be present on the mature form of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide; depending on whether the polypeptide produced in the host cell is designed to be secreted from that cell. Other methods known to the skilled artisan may be used as well.

[0153] In certain embodiments, nucleic acid variants contain codons which have been altered for the optimal expression of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide in a given host cell. Particular codon alterations will depend upon the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide(s) and host cell(s) selected for expression. Such “codon optimization” can be carried out by a variety of methods, for example, by selecting codons which are preferred for use in highly expressed genes in a given host cell. Computer algorithms which incorporate codon frequency tables such as “Ecohigh.cod” for codon preference of highly expressed bacterial genes may be used and are provided by the University of Wisconsin Package Version 9.0, Genetics Computer Group, Madison, Wis. Other useful codon frequency tables include “Celegans_high.cod”, “Celegans_low.cod”, “Drosophila_high.cod”, “Human_high.cod”, “Maize_high.cod”, and “Yeast_high.cod”.

[0154] Vectors and Host Cells

[0155] A nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide may be inserted into an appropriate expression vector using standard ligation techniques. The vector is typically selected to be functional in the particular host cell employed (i.e., the vector is compatible with the host cell machinery such that amplification of the gene and/or expression of the gene can occur). A nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide may be amplified/expressed in prokaryotic, yeast, insect (baculovirus systems), and/or eukaryotic host cells. Selection of the host cell will depend in part on whether an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide is to be post-translationally modified (e.g., glycosylated and/or phosphorylated). If so, yeast, insect, or mammalian host cells are preferable. For a review of expression vectors, see Meth. Enz., v.185, D. V. Goeddel, ed. Academic Press Inc., San Diego, Calif. (1990).

[0156] Typically, expression vectors used in any of the host cells will contain sequences for plasmid maintenance and for cloning and expression of exogenous nucleotide sequences. Such sequences, collectively referred to as “flanking sequences” in certain embodiments will typically include one or more of the following nucleotide sequences: a promoter, one or more enhancer sequences, an origin of replication, a transcriptional termination sequence, a complete intron sequence containing a donor and acceptor splice site, a sequence encoding a leader sequence for polypeptide secretion, a ribosome binding site, a polyadenylation sequence, a polylinker region for inserting the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide to be expressed, and a selectable marker element. Each of these sequences is discussed below.

[0157] Optionally, the vector may contain a “tag”-encoding sequence, i.e., an oligonucleotide molecule located at the 5′ or 3′ end of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide coding sequence; the oligonucleotide sequence encodes polyHis (such as hexaHis), or other “tag” such as FLAG, HA (hemaglutinin Influenza virus) or myc for which commercially available antibodies exist. This tag is typically fused to the polypeptide upon expression of the polypeptide, and can serve as a means for affinity purification of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide from the host cell. Affinity purification can be accomplished, for example, by column chromatography using antibodies against the tag as an affinity matrix. Optionally, the tag can subsequently be removed from the purified C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide by various means such as using certain peptidases for cleavage.

[0158] Flanking sequences may be homologous (i.e., from the same species and/or strain as the host cell), heterologous (i.e., from a species other than the host cell species or strain), hybrid (i.e., a combination of flanking sequences from more than one source) or synthetic, or the flanking sequences may be native sequences which normally function to regulate C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide expression. As such, the source of a flanking sequence may be any prokaryotic or eukaryotic organism, any vertebrate or invertebrate organism, or any plant, provided that the flanking sequence is functional in, and can be activated by, the host cell machinery.

[0159] The flanking sequences useful in the vectors of this invention may be obtained by any of several methods well known in the art. Typically, flanking sequences useful herein other than the C3b/C4b CR-like gene flanking sequences will have been previously identified by mapping and/or by restriction endonuclease digestion and can thus be isolated from the proper tissue source using the appropriate restriction endonucleases. In some cases, the full nucleotide sequence of a flanking sequence may be known. Here, the flanking sequence may be synthesized using the methods described herein for nucleic acid synthesis or cloning.

[0160] Where all or only a portion of the flanking sequence is known, it may be obtained using PCR and/or by screening a genomic library with suitable oligonucleotide and/or flanking sequence fragments from the same or another species. Where the flanking sequence is not known, a fragment of DNA containing a flanking sequence may be isolated from a larger piece of DNA that may contain, for example, a coding sequence or even another gene or genes. Isolation may be accomplished by restriction endonuclease digestion to produce the proper DNA fragment followed by isolation using agarose gel purification, Qiagen® column chromatography (Chatsworth, Calif.), or other methods known to the skilled artisan. The selection of suitable enzymes to accomplish this purpose will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0161] An origin of replication is typically a part of those prokaryotic expression vectors purchased commercially, and the origin aids in the amplification of the vector in a host cell. Amplification of the vector to a certain copy number can, in some cases, be important for the optimal expression of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. If the vector of choice does not contain an origin of replication site, one may be chemically synthesized based on a known sequence, and ligated into the vector. For example, the origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 (Product No. 303-3s, New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.) is suitable for most Gram-negative bacteria and various origins (e.g., SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, vesicular stomatitus virus (VSV) or papillomaviruses such as HPV or BPV) are useful for cloning vectors in mammalian cells. Generally, the origin of replication component is not needed for mammalian expression vectors (for example, the SV40 origin is often used only because it contains the early promoter).

[0162] A transcription termination sequence is typically located 3′ of the end of a polypeptide coding region and serves to terminate transcription. Usually, a transcription termination sequence in prokaryotic cells is a G−C rich fragment followed by a poly T sequence. While the sequence is easily cloned from a library or even purchased commercially as part of a vector, it can also be readily synthesized using methods for nucleic acid synthesis such as those described herein.

[0163] A selectable marker gene element encodes a protein necessary for the survival and growth of a host cell grown in a selective culture medium. Typical selection marker genes encode proteins that (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g., ampicillin, tetracycline, or kanamycin for prokaryotic host cells, (b) complement auxotrophic deficiencies of the cell; or (c) supply critical nutrients not available from complex media. Preferred selectable markers are the kanamycin resistance gene, the ampiclllin resistance gene, and the tetracycline resistance gene. A neomycin resistance gene may also be used for selection in prokaryotic and eukaryotic host cells.

[0164] Other selection genes may be used to amplify the gene which will be expressed. Amplification is the process wherein genes which are in greater demand for the production of a protein critical for growth are reiterated in tandem within the chromosomes of successive generations of recombinant cells. Examples of suitable selectable markets for mammalian cells include dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and thymidine kinase. The mammalian cell transformants are placed under selection pressure which only the transformants are uniquely adapted to survive by virtue of the selection gene present in the vector. Selection pressure is imposed by culturing the transformed cells under conditions in which the concentration of selection agent in the medium is successively changed, thereby leading to the amplification of both the selection gene and the DNA that encodes an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. As a result, increased quantities of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide are synthesized from the amplified DNA.

[0165] A ribosome binding site is usually necessary for translation initiation of mRNA and is characterized by a Shine-Dalgarno sequence (prokaryotes) or a Kozak sequence (eukaryotes). The element is typically located 3′ to the promoter and 5′ to the coding sequence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide to be expressed. The Shine-Dalgarno sequence is varied but is typically a polypurine (i.e., having a high A−G content). Many Shine-Dalgarno sequences have been identified, each of which can be readily synthesized using methods set forth herein and used in a prokaryotic vector.

[0166] A leader, or signal, sequence may be used to direct an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide out of the host cell. Typically, a nucleotide sequence encoding the signal sequence is positioned in the coding region of an C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecule, or directly at the 5′ end of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide coding region. Many signal sequences have been identified, and any of those that are functional in the selected host cell may be used in conjunction with an C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecule. Therefore, a signal sequence may be homologous (naturally occurring) or heterologous to an C3b/C4b CR-like gene or cDNA. Additionally, a signal sequence may be chemically synthesized using methods described herein. In most cases, the secretion of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide from the host cell via the presence of a signal peptide will result in the removal of the signal peptide from the secreted C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. The signal sequence may be a component of the vector, or it may be a part of an C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecule that is inserted into the vector.

[0167] Included within the scope of this invention is the use of either a nucleotide sequence encoding a native C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide signal sequence joined to an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide coding region or a nucleotide sequence encoding a heterologous signal sequence joined to an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide coding region. The heterologous signal sequence selected should be one that is recognized and processed, i.e., cleaved by a signal peptidase, by the host cell. For prokaryotic host cells that do not recognize and process the native C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide signal sequence, the signal sequence is substituted by a prokaryotic signal sequence selected, for example, from the group of the alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, or heat-stable enterotoxin II leaders. For yeast secretion, the native C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide signal sequence may be substituted by the yeast invertase, alpha factor, or acid phosphatase leaders. In mammalian cell expression the native signal sequence is satisfactory, although other mammalian signal sequences may be suitable.

[0168] In some cases, such as where glycosylation is desired in a eukaryotic host cell expression system, one may manipulate the various presequences to improve glycosylation or yield. For example, one may alter the peptidase cleavage site of a particular signal peptide, or add presequences, which also may affect glycosylation. The final protein product may have, in the −1 position (relative to the first amino acid of the mature protein) one or more additional amino acids incident to expression, which may not have been totally removed. For example, the final protein product may have one or two amino acid residues found in the peptidase cleavage site, attached to the N-terminus. Alternatively, use of some enzyme cleavage sites may result in a slightly truncated form of the desired C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, if the enzyme cuts at such area within the mature polypeptide.

[0169] In many cases, transcription of a nucleic acid molecule is increased by the presence of one or more introns in the vector; this is particularly true where a polypeptide is produced in eukaryotic host cells, especially mammalian host cells. The introns used may be naturally occurring within the C3b/C4b CR-like gene, especially where the gene used is a full length genomic sequence or a fragment thereof. Where the intron is not naturally occurring within the gene (as for most cDNAs), the intron(s) may be obtained from another source. The position of the intron with respect to flanking sequences and the C3b/C4b CR-like gene is generally important, as the intron must be transcribed to be effective. Thus, when an C3b/C4b CR-like cDNA molecule is being transcribed, the preferred position for the intron is 3′ to the transcription start site, and 5′ to the polyA transcription termination sequence. Preferably, the intron or introns will be located on one side or the other (i.e., 5′ or 3′) of the cDNA such that it does not interrupt the coding sequence. Any intron from any source, including any viral, prokaryotic and eukaryotic (plant or animal) organisms, may be used to practice this invention, provided that it is compatible with the host cell(s) into which it is inserted. Also included herein are synthetic introns. Optionally, more than one intron may be used in the vector.

[0170] The expression and cloning vectors of the present invention will each typically contain a promoter that is recognized by the host organism and operably linked to the molecule encoding a C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide. Promoters are untranscribed sequences located upstream (5′) to the start codon of a structural gene (generally within about 100 to 1000 bp) that control the transcription of the structural gene. Promoters are conventionally grouped into one of two classes, inducible promoters and constitutive promoters. Inducible promoters initiate increased levels of transcription from DNA under their control in response to some change in culture conditions, such as the presence or absence of a nutrient or a change in temperature. Constitutive promoters, on the other hand, initiate continual gene product production; that is, there is little or no control over gene expression. A large number of promoters, recognized by a variety of potential host cells, are well known. A suitable promoter is operably linked to the DNA encoding an C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide by removing the promoter from the source DNA by restriction enzyme digestion and inserting the desired promoter sequence into the vector. The native C3B/C4B CR-like gene promoter sequence may be used to direct amplification and/or expression of an C3B/C4B CR-like nucleic acid molecule. A heterologous promoter is preferred, however, if it permits greater transcription and higher yields of the expressed protein as compared to the native promoter, and if it is compatible with the host cell system that has been selected for use.

[0171] Promoters suitable for use with prokaryotic hosts include the beta-lactamase and lactose promoter systems; alkaline phosphatase, a tryptophan (trp) promoter system; and hybrid promoters such as the tac promoter. Other known bacterial promoters are also suitable. Their sequences have been published, thereby enabling one skilled in the art to ligate them to the desired DNA sequence(s), using linkers or adapters as needed to supply any useful restriction sites.

[0172] Suitable promoters for use with yeast hosts are also well known in the art. Yeast enhancers are advantageously used with yeast promoters. Suitable promoters for use with mammalian host cells are well known and include, but are not limited to, those obtained from the genomes of viruses such as polyoma virus, fowlpox virus, adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), a retrovirus, hepatitis-B virus and most preferably Simian Virus 40 (SV40). Other suitable mammalian promoters include heterologous mammalian promoters, e.g., heat-shock promoters and the actin promoter.

[0173] Additional promoters which may be of interest in controlling C3B/C4B CR-like gene transcription include, but are not limited to: the SV40 early promoter region (Bernoist and Chambon, Nature, 290:304-310, 1981); the CMV promoter; the promoter contained in the 3′ long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus (Yamamoto et al., Cell, 22:787-797, 1980); the herpes thymidine kinase promoter (Wagner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 78:144-1445, 1981); the regulatory sequences of the metallothionine gene (Brinster et al., Nature, 296:39-42, 1982); prokaryotic expression vectors such as the beta-lactamase promoter (Villa-Kamaroff, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 75:3727-3731, 1978); or the tac promoter (DeBoer, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80:21-25, 1983). Also of interest are the following animal transcriptional control regions, which exhibit tissue specificity and have been utilized in transgenic animals: the elastase I gene control region which is active in pancreatic acinar cells (Swift et al., Cell, 38:639-646, 1984; Ornitz et al., Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol., 50:399-409 (1986); MacDonald, Hepatology, 7:425-515, 1987); the insulin gene control region which is active in pancreatic beta cells (Hanahan, Nature, 315:115-122, 1985); the immunoglobulin gene control region which is active in lymphoid cells (Grosschedl et al., Cell, 38:647-658 (1984); Adames et al., Nature, 318:533-538 (1985); Alexander et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 7:1436-1444, 1987); the mouse mammary tumor virus control region which is active in testicular, breast, lymphoid and mast cells (Leder et al., Cell, 45:485-495, 1986); the albumin gene control region which is active in liver (Pinkert et al., Genes and Devel., 1:268-276, 1987); the alphafetoprotein gene control region which is active in liver (Krumlauf et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 5:1639-1648, 1985; Hammer et al., Science, 235:53-58, 1987); the alpha 1-antitrypsin gene control region which is active in the liver (Kelsey et al., Genes and Devel., 1:161-171, 1987); the beta-globin gene control region which is active in myeloid cells (Mogram et al., Nature, 315:338-340, 1985; Kollias et al., Cell, 46:89-94, 1986); the myelin basic protein gene control region which is active in oligodendrocyte cells in the brain (Readhead et al., Cell, 48:703-712, 1987); the myosin light chain-2 gene control region which is active in skeletal muscle (Sani, Nature, 314:283-286, 1985); and the gonadotropic releasing hormone gene control region which is active in the hypothalamus (Mason et al., Science, 234:1372-1378, 1986).

[0174] An enhancer sequence may be inserted into the vector to increase the transcription of a DNA encoding an C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide of the present invention by higher eukaryotes. Enhancers are cis-acting elements of DNA, usually about 10-300 bp in length, that act on the promoter to increase transcription. Enhancers are relatively orientation and position independent. They have been found 5′ and 3′ to the transcription unit. Several enhancer sequences available from mammalian genes are known (e.g., globin, elastase, albumin, alpha-feto-protein and insulin). Typically, however, an enhancer from a virus will be used. The SV40 enhancer, the cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer, and adenovirus enhancers are exemplary enhancing elements for the activation of eukaryotic promoters. While an enhancer may be spliced into the vector at a position 5′ or 3′ to an C3B/C4B CR-like nucleic acid molecule, it is typically located at a site 5′ from the promoter.

[0175] Expression vectors of the invention may be constructed from a starting vector such as a commercially available vector. Such vectors may or may not contain all of the desired flanking sequences. Where one or more of the desired flanking sequences are not already present in the vector, they may be individually obtained and liqated into the vector. Methods used for obtaining each of the flanking sequences are well known to one skilled in the art.

[0176] Preferred vectors for practicing this invention are those which are compatible with bacterial, insect, and mammalian host cells. Such vectors include, inter alia, pCRII, pCR3, and pcDNA3.1 (Invitrogen Company, Carlsbad, Calif.), pBSII (Stratagene Company, La Jolla, Calif.), pET15□ (Novagen, Madison, Wis.), pGEX (Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.), pEGFP-N2 (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), pETL (BlueBacII; Invitrogen), pDSR-alpha (PCT Publication No. No. WO90/14363) and pFastBacDual (Gibco/BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.).

[0177] Additional suitable vectors include, but are not limited to, cosmids, plasmids or modified viruses, but it will be appreciated that the vector system must be compatible with the selected host cell. Such vectors include, but are not limited to plasmids such as Bluescript® plasmid derivatives (a high copy number ColE1-based phagemid, Stratagene Cloning Systems Inc., La Jolla Calif.), PCR cloning plasmids designed for cloning Taq-amplified PCR products (e.g., TOPO™ TA Cloning Kit, PCR2.1® plasmid derivatives, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and mammalian, yeast, or virus vectors such as a baculovirus expression system (pBacPAK plasmid derivatives, Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.).

[0178] After the vector has been constructed and a nucleic acid molecule encoding an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide has been inserted into the proper site of the vector, the completed vector may be inserted into a suitable host cell for amplification and/or polypeptide expression. The transformation of an expression vector for an C3b/° C4b CR-like polypeptide into a selected host cell may be accomplished by well known methods including methods such as transfection, infection, calcium chloride, electroporation, microinjection, lipofection or the DE/AE-dextran method or other known techniques. The method selected will in part be a function of the type of host cell to be used. These methods and other suitable methods are well known to the skilled artisan, and are set forth, for example, in Sambrook et al., supra.

[0179] Host cells may be prokaryotic host cells (such as E. coli) or eukaryotic host cells (such as a yeast cell, an insect cell or a vertebrate cell). The host cell, when cultured under appropriate conditions, synthesizes an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide which can subsequently be collected from the culture medium (if the host cell secretes it into the medium) or directly from the host cell producing it (if it is not secreted). The selection of an appropriate host cell will depend upon various factors, such as desired expression levels, polypeptide modifications that are desirable or necessary for activity, such as glycosylation or phosphorylation, and ease of folding into a biologically active molecule.

[0180] A number of suitable host cells are known in the art and many are available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. Examples include, but are not limited to, mammalian cells, such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) (ATCC No. CCL61) CHO DHFR-cells (Urlaub et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 97:4216-4220 (1980)), human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 or 293T cells (ATCC No. CRL1573), or 3T3 cells (ATCC No. CCL92). The selection of suitable mammalian host cells and methods for transformation, culture, amplification, screening and product production and purification are known in the art. Other suitable mammalian cell lines, are the monkey COS-1 (ATCC No. CRL1650) and COS-7 cell lines (ATCC No. CRL1651), and the CV-1 cell line (ATCC No. CCL70). Further exemplary mammalian host cells include primate cell lines and rodent cell lines, including transformed cell lines. Normal diploid cells, cell strains derived from in vitro culture of primary tissue, as well as primary explants, are also suitable. Candidate cells may be genotypically deficient in the selection gene, or may contain a dominantly acting selection gene. Other suitable mammalian cell lines include but are not limited to, mouse neuroblastoma N2A cells, HeLa, mouse L-929 cells, 3T3 lines derived from Swiss, Balb-c or NIH mice, BHK or HaK hamster cell lines, which are available from the ATCC. Each of these cell lines is known by and available to those skilled in the art of protein expression.

[0181] Similarly useful as host cells suitable for the present invention are bacterial cells. For example, the various strains of E. coli (e.g., HB101, (ATCC No. 33694) DH5a, DH10, and MC1061 (ATCC No. 53338)) are well-known as host cells in the field of biotechnology. Various strains of B. subtilis, Pseudomonas spp., other Bacillus spp., Streptomyces spp., and the like may also be employed in this method.

[0182] Many strains of yeast cells known to those skilled in the art are also available as host cells for the expression of the polypeptides of the present invention. Preferred yeast cells include, for example, Saccharomyces cerivisae and Pichia pastoris.

[0183] Additionally, where desired, insect cell systems may be utilized in the methods of the present invention. Such systems are described for example in Kitts et al., Biotechniques, 14:810-817 (1993); Lucklow, Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 4:564-572 (1993); and Lucklow et al. (J. Virol., 67:4566-4579 (1993). Preferred insect cells are Sf-9 and Hi5 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.).

[0184] One may also use transgenic animals to express glycosylated C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. For example, one may use a transgenic milk-producing animal (a cow or goat, for example) and obtain the present glycosylated polypeptide in the animal milk. One may also use plants to produce C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides, however, in general, the glycosylation occurring in plants is different from that produced in mammalian cells, and may result in a glycosylated product which is not suitable for human therapeutic use.

[0185] Polypeptide Production

[0186] Host cells comprising an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide expression vector may be cultured using standard media well known to the skilled artisan. The media will usually contain all nutrients necessary for the growth and survival of the cells. Suitable media for culturing E. coli cells include, for example, Luria Broth (LB) and/or Terrific Broth (TB). Suitable media for culturing eukaryotic cells include Roswell Park Memorial Institute medium 1640 (RPMI 1640), Minimal Essential Medium (MEM) and/or Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), all of which may be supplemented with serum and/or growth factors as indicated by the particular cell line being cultured. A suitable medium for insect cultures is Grace's medium supplemented with yeastolate, lactalbumin hydrolysate and/or fetal calf serum, as necessary.

[0187] Typically, an antibiotic or other compound useful for selective growth of transformed cells is added as a supplement to the media. The compound to be used will be dictated by the selectable marker element present on the plasmid with which the host cell was transformed. For example, where the selectable marker element is kanamycin resistance, the compound added to the culture medium will be kanamycin. Other compounds for selective growth include ampicillin, tetracycline, and neomycin.

[0188] The amount of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide produced by a host cell can be evaluated using standard methods known in the art. Such methods include, without limitation, Western blot analysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, non-denaturing gel electrophoresis, HPLC separation, immunoprecipitation, and/or activity assays such as DNA binding gel shift assays.

[0189] If an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide has been designed to be secreted from the host cells, the majority of polypeptide may be found in the cell culture medium. If however, the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide is not secreted from the host cells, it will be present in the cytoplasm and/or the nucleus (for eukaryotic host cells) or in the cytosol (for bacterial host cells).

[0190] For an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide situated in the host cell cytoplasm and/or the nucleus (for eukaryotic host cells) or in the cytosol (for bacterial host cells), intracellular material (including inclusion bodies for gram-negative bacteria) can be extracted from the host cell using any standard technique known to the skilled artisan. For example, the host cells can be lysed to release the contents of the periplasm/cytoplasm by French press, homogenization, and/or sonication followed by centrifugation.

[0191] If an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide has formed inclusion bodies in the cytosol, the inclusion bodies can often bind to the inner and/or outer cellular membranes and thus will be found primarily in the pellet material after centrifugation. The pellet material can then be treated at pH extremes or with a chaotropic agent such as a detergent, guanidine, guanidine derivatives, urea, or urea derivatives in the presence of a reducing agent such as dithiothreitol at alkaline pH or tris carboxyethyl phosphine at acid pH to release, break apart, and solubilize the inclusion bodies. The C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide in its now soluble form can then be analyzed using gel electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation or the like. If it is desired to isolate the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, isolation may be accomplished using standard methods such as those described herein and in Marston et al., Meth. Enz., 182:264-275 (1990).

[0192] In some cases, an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide may not be biologically active upon isolation. Various methods for “refolding” or converting the polypeptide to its tertiary structure and generating disulfide linkages can be used to restore biological activity. Such methods include exposing the solubilized polypeptide to a pH usually above 7 and in the presence of a particular concentration of a chaotrope. The selection of chactrope is very similar to the choices used for inclusion body solubilization, but usually the chaotrope is used at a lower concentration and is not necessarily the same as chaotropes used for the solubilization. In most cases the refolding/oxidation solution will also contain a reducing agent or the reducing agent plus its oxidized form in a specific ratio to generate a particular redox potential allowing for disulfide shuffling to occur in the formation of the protein's cysteine bridge(s). Some of the commonly used redox couples include cysteine/cystamine, glutathione (GSH)/dithiobis GSH, cupric chloride, dithiothreitol(DTT)/dithiane DTT, and 2-2mercaptoethanol(bME)/dithio-b(ME). A cosolvent may be used to increase the efficiency of the refolding, and the more common reagents used for this purpose include glycerol, polyethylene glycol of various molecular weights, arginine and the like.

[0193] If inclusion bodies are not formed to a significant degree upon expression of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, then the polypeptide will be found primarily in the supernatant after centrifugation of the cell homogenate. The polypeptide may be further isolated from the supernatant using methods such as those described herein.

[0194] The purification of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide from solution can be accomplished using a variety of techniques. If the polypeptide has been synthesized such that it contains a tag such as Hexahistidine (C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide/hexaHis) or other small peptide such as FLAG (Eastman Kodak Co., New Haven, Conn.) or myc (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) at either its carboxyl or amino terminus, it may be purified in a one-step process by passing the solution through an affinity column where The column matrix has a high affinity for the tag.

[0195] For example, polyhistidine binds with great affinity and specificity to nickel, thus an affinity column of nickel (such as the Qiagen® nickel columns) can be used for purification of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide/polyHis. See for example, Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Section 10.11.8, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1993).

[0196] Additionally, the C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide may be purified through the use of a monoclonal antibody which is capable of specifically recognizing and binding to the C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide.

[0197] Suitable procedures for purification thus include, without limitation, affinity chromatography, immunoaffinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, molecular sieve chromatography, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), electrophoresis (including native gel electrophoresis) followed by gel elution, and preparative isoelectric focusing (“Isoprime” machine/technique, Hoefer Scientific, San Francisco, Calif.). In some cases, two or more purification techniques may be combined to achieve increased purity.

[0198] C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may also be prepared by chemical synthesis methods (such as solid phase peptide synthesis) using techniques known in the art, such as those set forth by Merrifield et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85:2149 (1963), Houghten et al., Proc Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 82:5132 (1985), and Stewart and Young, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill. (1984). Such polypeptides may be synthesized with or without a methionine on the amino terminus. Chemically synthesized C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may be oxidized using methods set forth in these references to form disulfide bridges. Chemically synthesized C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides are expected to have comparable biological activity to the corresponding C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides produced recombinantly or purified from natural sources, and thus may be used interchangeably with a recombinant or natural C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide.

[0199] Another means of obtaining an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide is via purification from biological samples such as source tissues and/or fluids in which the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide is naturally found. Such purification can be conducted using methods for protein purification as described herein. The presence of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide during purification may be monitored using, for example, an antibody prepared against recombinantly produced C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or peptide fragments thereof.

[0200] A number of additional methods for producing nucleic acids and polypeptides are known in the art, and can be used to produce polypeptides having specificity for C3b/C4b CR-like. See for example, Roberts et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 94:12297-12303 (1997), which describes the production of fusion proteins between an mRNA and its encoded peptide. See also Roberts, R., Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol., 3:268-273 (1999). Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,469 describes methods of obtaining oligonucleotides capable of carrying out a specific biological function. The procedure involves generating a heterogeneous pool of oligonucleotides, each having a 5′ randomized sequence, a central preselected sequence, and a 3′ randomized sequence. The resulting heterogeneous pool is introduced into a population of cells that do not exhibit the desired biological function. Subpopulations of the cells are then screened for those which exhibit a predetermined biological function. From that subpopulation, oligonucleotides capable of carrying out the desired biological function are isolated.

[0201] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,763,192, 5,814,476, 5,723,323, and 5,817,483 describe processes for producing peptides or polypeptides. This is done by producing stochastic genes or fragments thereof, and then introducing these genes into host cells which produce one or more proteins encoded by the stochastic genes. The host cells are then screened to identify those clones producing peptides or polypeptides having the desired activity.

[0202] Another method for producing peptides or polypeptides is described in PCT/US98/20094 (WO99/15650) filed by Athersys, Inc. Known as “Random Activation of Gene Expression for Gene Discovery” (RAGE-GD), the process involves the activation of endogenous gene expression or over-expression of a gene by in situ recombination methods. For example, expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased by integrating a regulatory sequence into the target cell which is capable of activating expression of the gene by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination. The target DNA is first subjected to radiation, and a genetic promoter inserted. The promoter eventually locates a break at the front of a gene, initiating transcription of the gene. This results in expression of the desired peptide or polypeptide.

[0203] It will be appreciated that these methods can also be used to create comprehensive protein expression libraries, which can subsequently be used for high throughput phenotypic screening in a variety of assays, such as biochemical assays, cellular assays, and whole organism assays (e.g., plant, mouse, etc.).

[0204] Chemical Derivatives

[0205] Chemically modified derivatives of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may be prepared by one skilled in the art, given the disclosures set forth hereinbelow. C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide derivatives are modified in a manner that is different, either in the type or location of the molecules naturally attached to the polypeptide. Derivatives may include molecules formed by the deletion of one or more naturally-attached chemical groups. The polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, or an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variant may be modified by the covalent attachment of one or more polymers. For example, the polymer selected is typically water soluble so that the protein to which it is attached does not precipitate in an aqueous environment, such as a physiological environment. Included within the scope of suitable polymers is a mixture of polymers. Preferably, for therapeutic use of the end-product preparation, the polymer will be pharmaceutically acceptable.

[0206] The polymers each may be of any molecular weight and may be branched or unbranched. The polymers each typically have an average molecular weight of between about 2 kDa to about 100 kDa (the term “about” indicating that in preparations of a water soluble polymer, some molecules will weigh more, some less, than the stated molecular weight). The average molecular weight of each polymer preferably is between about 5 kDa and about 50 kDa, more preferably between about 12 kDa and about 40 kDa and most preferably between about 20 kDa and about 35 kDa.

[0207] Suitable water soluble polymers or mixtures thereof include, but are not limited to, N-linked or O-linked carbohydrates, sugars, phosphates, polyethylene glycol (PEG) (including the forms of PEG that have been used to derivatize proteins, including mono-(C₁-C₁₀) alkoxy- or aryloxy-polyethylene glycol), monomethoxy-polyethylene glycol, dextran (such as low molecular weight dextran, of, for example about 6 kD), cellulose, or other carbohydrate based polymers, poly-(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol homopolymers, a polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymer, polyoxyethylated polyols (e.g., glycerol) and polyvinyl alcohol. Also encompassed by the present invention are bifunctional crosslinking molecules which may be used to prepare covalently attached multimers of the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 or an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variant.

[0208] In general, chemical derivatization may be performed under any suitable condition used to react a protein with an activated polymer molecule. Methods for preparing chemical derivatives of polypeptides will generally comprise the steps of (a) reacting the polypeptide with the activated polymer molecule (such as a reactive ester or aldehyde derivative of the polymer molecule) under conditions whereby the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, or an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide variant becomes attached to one or more polymer molecules, and (b) obtaining the reaction product(s). The optimal reaction conditions will be determined based on known parameters and the desired result. For example, the larger the ratio of polymer molecules:protein, the greater the percentage of attached polymer molecule. In one embodiment, the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide derivative may have a single polymer molecule moiety at the amino terminus. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,784.

[0209] The pegylation of the polypeptide specifically may be carried out by any of the pegylation reactions known in the art, as described for example in the following references: Francis et al., Focus on Growth Factors, 3:4-10 (1992); EP 0154316; EP 0401384 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337. For example, pegylation may be carried out via an acylation reaction or an alkylation reaction with a reactive polyethylene glycol molecule (or an analogous reactive water-soluble polymer) as described herein. For the acylation reactions, the polymer(s) selected should have a single reactive ester group. For reductive alkylation, the polymer(s) selected should have a single reactive aldehyde group. A reactive aldehyde is, for example, polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde, which is water stable, or mono C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy or aryloxy derivatives thereof (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,714).

[0210] In another embodiment, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may be chemically coupled to biotin, and the biotin/C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide molecules which are conjugated are then allowed to bind to avidin, resulting in tetravalent avidin/biotin/C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide molecules. C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may also be covalently coupled to dinitrophenol (DNP) or trinitrophenol (TNP) and the resulting conjugates precipitated with anti-DNP or anti-TNP-IgM to form decameric conjugates with a valency of 10.

[0211] Generally, conditions which may be alleviated or modulated by the administration of the present C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide derivatives include those described herein for C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. However, the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide derivatives disclosed herein may have additional activities, enhanced or reduced biological activity, or other characteristics, such as increased or decreased half-life, as compared to the non-derivatized molecules.

[0212] Genetically Engineered Non-human Animals

[0213] Additionally included within the scope of the present invention are non-human animals such as mice, rats, or other rodents, rabbits, goats, or sheep, or other farm animals, in which the gene (or genes) encoding the native C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide has (have) been disrupted (“knocked out”) such that the level of expression of this gene or genes is (are) significantly decreased or completely abolished. Such animals may be prepared using techniques and methods such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,032.

[0214] The present invention further includes non-human animals such as mice, rats, or other rodents, rabbits, goats, sheep, or other farm animals, in which either the native form of the C3b/C4b CR-like gene(s) for that animal or a heterologous C3b/C4b CR-like gene(s) is (are) over-expressed by the animal, thereby creating a “transgenic” animal. Such transgenic animals may be prepared using well known methods such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,743 and PCT application No. WO94/28122.

[0215] The present invention further includes non-human animals in which the promoter for one or more of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides of the present invention is either activated or inactivated (e.g., by using homologous recombination methods) to alter the level of expression of one or more of the native C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides.

[0216] These non-human animals may be used for drug candidate screening. In such screening, the impact of a drug candidate on the animal may be measured. For example, drug candidates may decrease or increase the expression of the C3b/C4b CR-like gene. In certain embodiments, the amount of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, that is produced may be measured after the exposure of the animal to the drug candidate. Additionally, in certain embodiments, one may detect the actual impact of the drug candidate on the animal. For example, the overexpression of a particular gene may result in, or be associated with, a disease or pathological condition. In such cases, one may test a drug candidate's ability to decrease expression of the gene or its ability to prevent or inhibit a pathological condition. In other examples, the production of a particular metabolic product such as a fragment of a polypeptide, may result in, or be associated with, a disease or pathological condition. In such cases, one may test a drug candidate's ability to decrease the production of such a metabolic product or its ability to prevent or inhibit a pathological condition.

[0217] Microarray

[0218] It will be appreciated that DNA microarray technology can be utilized in accordance with the present invention. DNA microarrays are miniature, high density arrays of nucleic acids positioned on a solid support, such as glass. Each cell or element within the array has numerous copies of a single species of DNA which acts as a target for hybridization for its cognate mRNA. In expression profiling using DNA microarray technology, mRNA is first extracted from a cell or tissue sample and then converted enzymatically to fluorescently labeled cDNA. This material is hybridized to the microarray and unbound cDNA is removed by washing. The expression of discrete genes represented on the array is then visualized by quantitating the amount of labeled cDNA which is specifically bound to each target DNA. In this way, the expression of thousands of genes can be quantitated in a high throughput, parallel manner from a single sample of biological material.

[0219] This high throughput expression profiling has a broad range of applications with respect to the C3b/C4b CR-like molecules of the invention, including, but not limited to: the identification and validation of C3b/C4b CR-like disease-related genes as targets for therapeutics; molecular toxicology of C3b/C4b CR-like molecules and inhibitors thereof; stratification of populations and generation of surrogate markers for clinical trials; and enhancing C3b/C4b CR-like-related small molecule drug discovery by aiding in the identification of selective compounds in high throughput screens (HTS).

[0220] Selective Binding Agents

[0221] As used herein, the term “selective binding agent” refers to a molecule which has specificity for one or more C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. Suitable selective binding agents include, but are not limited to, antibodies and derivatives thereof, polypeptides, and small molecules. Suitable selective binding agents may be prepared using methods known in the art. An exemplary C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide selective binding agent of the present invention is capable of binding a certain portion of the C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide thereby inhibiting the binding of the polypeptide to the C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide receptor(s).

[0222] Selective binding agents such as antibodies and antibody fragments that bind C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides are within the scope of the present invention. The antibodies may be polyclonal including monospecific polyclonal, monoclonal (MAbs), recombinant, chimeric, humanized such as CDR-grafted, human, single chain, and/or bispecific, as well as fragments, variants or derivatives thereof. Antibody fragments include those portions of the antibody which bind to an epitope on the C3B/C4B CR-like polypeptide. Examples of such fragments include Fab and F(ab′) fragments generated by enzymatic cleavage of full-length antibodies. Other binding fragments include those generated by recombinant DNA techniques, such as the expression of recombinant plasmids containing nucleic acid sequences encoding antibody variable regions.

[0223] Polyclonal antibodies directed toward an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide generally are produced in animals (e.g., rabbits or mice) by means of multiple subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide and an adjuvant. It may be useful to conjugate an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide to a carrier protein that is immunogenic in the species to be immunized, such as keyhole limpet heocyanin, serum, albumin, bovine thyroglobulin, or soybean trypsin inhibitor. Also, aggregating agents such as alum are used to enhance the immune response. After immunization, the animals are bled and the serum is assayed for anti-C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide antibody titer.

[0224] Monoclonal antibodies directed toward an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide are produced using any method which provides for the production of antibody molecules by continuous cell lines in culture. Examples of suitable methods for preparing monoclonal antibodies include the hybridoma methods of Kohler et al., Nature, 256:495-497 (1975) and the human B-cell hybridoma method, Kozbor, J. Immunol., 133:3001 (1984); Brodeur et al., Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques and Applications, pp. 51-63 (Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1987). Also provided by the invention are hybridoma cell lines which produce monoclonal antibodies reactive with C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides.

[0225] Monoclonal antibodies of the invention may be modified for use as therapeutics. One embodiment is a “chimeric” antibody in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is identical with or homologous to a corresponding sequence in antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous to a corresponding sequence in antibodies derived from another species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass. Also included are fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity. See, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 81:6851-6855 (1985).

[0226] In another embodiment, a monoclonal antibody of the invention is a “humanized” antibody. Methods for humanizing non-human antibodies are well known in the art. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,585,089, and 5,693,762. Generally, a humanized antibody has one or more amino acid residues introduced into it from a source which is non-human. Humanization can be performed, for example, using methods described in the art (Jones et al., Nature 321:522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature, 332:323-327 (1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science 239:1534-1536 (1988)), by substituting at least a portion of a rodent complementarity-determining region (CDR) for the corresponding regions of a human antibody.

[0227] Also encompassed by the invention are human antibodies which bind C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. Using transgenic animals (e.g., mice) that are capable of producing a repertoire of human antibodies in the absence of endogenous immunoglobulin production such antibodies are produced by immunization with an C3b!C4b CR-like antigen (i.e., having at least 6 contiguous amino acids), optionally conjugated to a carrier. See, for example, Jakobovits et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 90:2551-2555 (1993); Jakobovits et al., Nature 362:255-258 (1993); Bruggemann et al., Year in Immuno., 7:33 (1993). In one method, such transgenic animals are produced by incapacitating the endogenous loci encoding the heavy and light immunoglobulin chains therein, and inserting loci encoding human heavy and light chain proteins into the genome thereof. Partially modified animals, that is those having less than the full complement of modifications, are then cross-bred to obtain an animal having all of the desired immune system modifications. When administered an immunogen, these transgenic animals produce antibodies with human (rather than e.g., murine) amino acid sequences, including variable regions which are immunospecific for these antigens. See PCT application nos. PCT/US96/05928 and PCT/US93/06926. Additional methods are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,807, PCT application nos. PCT/US91/245, PCT/GB89/01207, and in EP 546073B1 and EP 546073A1. Human antibodies may also be produced by the expression of recombinant DNA in host cells or by expression in hybridoma cells as described herein.

[0228] In an alternative embodiment, human antibodies can be produced from phage-display libraries (Hoogenboom et al., J. Mol. Biol. 227:381 (1991); Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol. 222:581 (1991). These processes mimic immune selection through the display of antibody repertoires on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage, and subsequent selection of phage by their binding to an antigen of choice. One such technique is described in PCT Application no. PCT/US98/17364, which describes the isolation of high affinity and functional agonistic antibodies for MPL- and msk-receptors using such an approach.

[0229] Chimeric, CDR grafted, and humanized antibodies are typically produced by recombinant methods. Nucleic acids encoding the antibodies are introduced into host cells and expressed using materials and procedures described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the antibodies are produced in mammalian host cells, such as CHO cells. Monoclonal (e.g., human) antibodies may be produced by the expression of recombinant DNA in host cells or by expression in hybridoma cells as described herein.

[0230] The anti-C3b/C4b CR-like antibodies of the invention may be employed in any known assay method, such as competitive binding assays, direct and indirect sandwich assays, and immunoprecipitation assays (Zola, Monoclonal Antibodies: A Manual of Techniques, pp. 147-158 (CRC Press, Inc., 1987)) for the detection and quantitation of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. The antibodies will bind C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides with an affinity which is appropriate for the assay method being employed.

[0231] For diagnostic applications, in certain embodiments, anti-C3b/C4b CR-like antibodies may be labeled with a detectable moiety. The detectable moiety can be any one which is capable of producing, either directly or indirectly, a detectable signal. For example, the detectable moiety may be a radioisotope, such as ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S, or ¹²⁵I, a fluorescent or chemiluminescent compound, such as fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, or luciferin; or an enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase, □-galactosidase, or horseradish peroxidase (Bayer et al., Meth. Enz., 184:138-163 (1990)).

[0232] Competitive binding assays rely on the ability of a labeled standard (e.g., an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, or an immunologically reactive portion thereof) to compete with the test sample analyte (an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide) for binding with a limited amount of anti C3b/C4b CR-like antibody. The amount of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide in the test sample is inversely proportional to the amount of standard that becomes bound to the antibodies. To facilitate determining the amount of standard that becomes bound, the antibodies typically are insolubilized before or after the competition, so that the standard and analyte that are bound to the antibodies may conveniently be separated from the standard and analyte which remain unbound.

[0233] Sandwich assays typically involve the use of two antibodies, each capable of binding to a different immunogenic portion, or epitope, of the protein to be detected and/or quantitated. In a sandwich assay, the test sample analyte is typically bound by a first antibody which is immobilized on a solid support, and thereafter a second antibody binds to the analyte, thus forming an insoluble three part complex. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,110. The second antibody may itself be labeled with a detectable moiety (direct sandwich assays) or may be measured using an anti-immunoglobulin antibody that is labeled with a detectable moiety (indirect sandwich assays). For example, one type of sandwich assay is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in which case the detectable moiety is an enzyme.

[0234] The selective binding agents, including anti-C3b/C4b CR-like antibodies, also are useful for in vivo imaging. An antibody labeled with a detectable moiety may be administered to an animal, preferably into the bloodstream, and the presence and location of the labeled antibody in the host is assayed. The antibody may be labeled with any moiety that is detectable in an animal, whether by nuclear magnetic resonance, radiology, or other detection means known in the art.

[0235] Selective binding agents of the invention, including antibodies, may be used as therapeutics. These therapeutic agents are generally agonists or antagonists, in that they either enhance or reduce, respectively, at least one of the biological activities of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. In one embodiment, antagonist antibodies of the invention are antibodies or binding fragments thereof which are capable of specifically binding to an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide and which are capable of inhibiting or eliminating the functional activity of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide in vivo or in vitro. In preferred embodiments, the selective binding agent, e.g., an antagonist antibody, will inhibit the functional activity of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide by at least about 50%, and preferably by at least about 80%. In another embodiment, the selective binding agent may be an antibody that is capable of interacting with an C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner (a ligand or receptor) thereby inhibiting or eliminating C3b/C4b CR-like activity in vitro or in vivo. Selective binding agents, including agonist and antagonist anti-C3b/C4b CR-like antibodies, are identified by screening assays which are well known in the art.

[0236] The invention also relates to a kit comprising C3b/C4b CR-like selective binding agents (such as antibodies) and other reagents useful for detecting C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide levels in biological samples. Such reagents may include, a detectable label, blocking serum, positive and negative control samples, and detection reagents.

[0237] C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides can be used to clone C3b/C4b CR-like ligand(s) using an “expression cloning” strategy. Radiolabeled (125-Iodine) C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or “affinity/activity-tagged” C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide (such as an Fc fusion or an alkaline phosphatase fusion) can be used in binding assays to identify a cell type or cell line or tissue that expresses C3b/C4b CR-like ligand(s). RNA isolated from such cells or tissues can then be converted to cDNA, cloned into a mammalian expression vector, and transfected into mammalian cells (for example, COS, or 293) to create an expression library. Radiolabeled or tagged C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide can then be used as an affinity reagent to identify and isolate the subset of cells in this library expressing C3b/C4b CR-like ligand(s). DNA is then isolated from these cells and transfected into mammalian cells to create a secondary expression library in which the fraction of cells expressing C3b/C4b CR-like ligand(s) would be many-fold higher than in the original library. This enrichment process can be repeated iteratively until a single recombinant clone containing an C3b/C4b CR-like ligand is isolated. Isolation of C3b/C4b CR-like ligand(s) is useful for identifying or developing novel agonists and antagonists of the C3b/C4b CR-like signaling pathway. Such agonists and antagonists include C3b/C4b CR-like ligand(s), anti-C3b/C4b CR-like ligand antibodies, small molecules or antisense oligonucleotides.

[0238] Assaying for Other Modulators of C3b/C4b CR-like Polypeptide Activity

[0239] In some situations, it may be desirable to identify molecules that are modulators, i.e., agonists or antagonists, of the activity of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. Natural or synthetic molecules that modulate C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide may be identified using one or more screening assays, such as those described herein. Such molecules may be administered either in an ex vivo manner, or in an in vivo manner by injection, or by oral delivery, implantation device, or the like.

[0240] “Test molecule(s)” refers to the molecule(s) that is/are under evaluation for the ability to modulate (i.e., increase or decrease) the activity of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. Most commonly, a test molecule will interact directly with an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. However, it is also contemplated that a test molecule may also modulate C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide activity indirectly, such as by affecting C3b/C4b CR-like gene expression, or by binding to an C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner (e.g., receptor or ligand). In one embodiment, a test molecule will bind to an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide with an affinity constant of at least about 10⁻⁶ M, preferably about 10⁻⁸ M, more preferably about 10⁻⁹ M, and even more preferably about 10⁻¹⁰ M.

[0241] Methods for identifying compounds which interact with C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides are encompassed by the present invention. In certain embodiments, an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide is incubated with a test molecule under conditions which permit the interaction of the test molecule with an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, and the extent of the interaction can be measured. The test molecule(s) can be screened in a substantially purified form or in a crude mixture.

[0242] In certain embodiments, an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide agonist or antagonist may be a protein, peptide, carbohydrate, lipid, or small molecular weight molecule which interacts with C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide to regulate its activity. Molecules which regulate C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide expression include nucleic acids which are complementary to nucleic acids encoding an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, or are complementary to nucleic acids sequences which direct or control the expression of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, and which act as anti-sense regulators of expression.

[0243] Once a set of test molecules has been identified as interacting with an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, the molecules may be further evaluated for their ability to increase or decrease C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide activity. The measurement of the interaction of test molecules with C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may be carried out in several formats, including cell-based binding assays, membrane binding assays, solution-phase assays and immunoassays. In general, test molecules are incubated with an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide for a specified period of time, and C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide activity is determined by one or more assays for measuring biological activity.

[0244] The interaction of test molecules with C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may also be assayed directly using polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies in an immunoassay. Alternatively, modified forms of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides containing epitope tags as described herein may be used in immunoassays.

[0245] In the event that C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides display biological activity through an interaction with a binding partner (e.g., a receptor or a ligand), a variety of in vitro assays may be used to measure the binding of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide to the corresponding binding. partner (such as a selective binding agent, receptor, or ligand). These assays may be used to screen test molecules for their ability to increase or decrease the rate and/or the extent of binding of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide to its binding partner. In one assay, an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide is immobilized in the wells of a microtiter plate. Radiolabeled C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner (for example, iodinated C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner) and the test molecule(s) can then be added either one at a time (in either order) or simultaneously to the wells. After incubation, the wells can be washed and counted, using a scintillation counter, for radioactivity to determine the extent to which the binding partner bound to C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. Typically, the molecules will be tested over a range of concentrations, and a series of control wells lacking one or more elements of the test assays can be used for accuracy in the evaluation of the results. An alternative to this method involves reversing the “positions” of the proteins, i.e., immobilizing C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner to the microtiter plate wells, incubating with the test molecule and radiolabeled C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, and determining the extent of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide binding. See, for example, chapter 18, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel et al., eds., John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y. (1995).

[0246] As an alternative to radiolabelling, an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or its binding partner may be conjugated to biotin and the presence of biotinylated protein can then be detected using streptavidin linked to an enzyme, such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP), that can be detected colorometrically, or by fluorescent tagging of streptavidin. An antibody directed to an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or to an C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner and conjugated to biotin may also be used and can be detected after incubation with enzyme-linked streptavidin linked to AP or HRP.

[0247] An C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or an C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner can also be immobilized by attachment to agarose beads, acrylic beads or other types of such inert solid phase substrates. The substrate-protein complex can be placed in a solution containing the complementary protein and the test compound. After incubation, the beads can be precipitated by centrifugation, and the amount of binding between an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide and its binding partner can be assessed using the methods described herein. Alternatively, the substrate-protein complex can be immobilized in a column, and the test molecule and complementary protein are passed through the column. The formation of a complex between an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide and its binding partner can then be assessed using any of the techniques set forth herein, i.e., radiolabelling, antibody binding, or the like.

[0248] Another in vitro assay that is useful for identifying a test molecule which increases or decreases the formation of a complex between an C3b/C4b Complement Receptor polypeptide and an C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner is a surface plasmon resonance detector system such as the BIAcore assay system (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). The BIAcore system may be carried out using the manufacturer's protocol. This assay essentially involves the covalent binding of either C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or an C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner to a dextran-coated sensor chip which is located in a detector. The test compound and the other complementary protein can then be injected, either simultaneously or sequentially, into the chamber containing the sensor chip. The amount of complementary protein that binds can be assessed based on the change in molecular mass which is physically associated with the dextran-coated side of the sensor chip; the change in molecular mass can be measured by the detector system.

[0249] In some cases, it may be desirable to evaluate two or more test compounds together for their ability to increase or decrease the formation of a complex between an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide and an C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner. In these cases, the assays set forth herein can be readily modified by adding such additional test compound(s) either simultaneous with, or subsequent to, the first test compound. The remainder of the steps in the assay are as set forth herein.

[0250] In vitro assays such as those described herein may be used advantageously to screen large numbers of compounds for effects on complex formation by C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide and C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner. The assays may be automated to screen compounds generated in phage display, synthetic peptide, and chemical synthesis libraries.

[0251] Compounds which increase or decrease the formation of a complex between an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide and an C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner may also be screened in cell culture using cells and cell lines expressing either C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner. Cells and cell lines may be obtained from any mammal, but preferably will be from human or other primate, canine, or rodent sources. The binding of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide to cells expressing C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner at the surface is evaluated in the presence or absence of test molecules, and the extent of binding may be determined by, for example, flow cytometry using a biotinylated antibody to an C3b/C4b CR-like binding partner. Cell culture assays can be used advantageously to further evaluate compounds that score positive in protein binding assays described herein.

[0252] Cell cultures can also be used to screen the impact of a drug candidate. For example, drug candidates may decrease or increase the expression of the C3b/C4b CR-like gene. In certain embodiments, the amount of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide that is produced may be measured after exposure of the cell culture to the drug candidate. In certain embodiments, one may detect the actual impact of the drug candidate on the cell culture. For example, the overexpression of a particular gene may have a particular impact on the cell culture. In such cases, one may test a drug candidate's ability to increase or decrease the expression of the gene or its ability to prevent or inhibit a particular impact on the cell culture. In other examples, the production of a particular metabolic product such as a fragment of a polypeptide, may result in, or be associated with, a disease or pathological condition. In such cases, one may test a drug candidate's ability to decrease the production of such a metabolic product in a cell culture.

[0253] A yeast two hybrid system (Chien et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:9578-9583 (1991)) can be used to identify novel polypeptides that bind to, or interact with, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. As an example, hybrid constructs comprising DNA encoding a cytoplasmic domain of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide fused to a yeast GAL4-DNA binding domain may be used as a two-hybrid bait plasmid. Positive clones emerging from the screening may be characterized further to identify interacting proteins.

[0254] Internalizing Proteins

[0255] The tat protein sequence (from HIV) can be used to internalize proteins into a cell. See e.g., Falwell et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 91:664-668 (1994). For example, an 11 amino acid sequence (YGRKKRRQRRR) of the HIV tat protein (termed the “protein transduction domain”, or TAT PDT) has been described as mediating delivery across the cytoplasmic membrane and the nuclear membrane of a cell. See Schwarze et al., Science, 285:1569-1572 (1999); and Nagahara et al., Nature Medicine, 4:1449-1452 (1998). In these procedures, FITC-constructs (FITC-GGGGYGRKKRRQRRR) are prepared which bind to cells as observed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analvsis, and these constructs penetrate tissues after i.p. administration. Next, tat-bgal fusion proteins are constructed. Cells treated with this construct demonstrated b-gal activity. Following injection, a number of tissues, including liver, kidney, lung, heart, and brain tissue have been found to demonstrate expression using these procedures. It is believed that these constructions underwent some degree of unfolding in order to enter the cell; as such, refolding may be required after entering the cell.

[0256] It will thus be appreciated that the tat protein sequence may be used to internalize a desired protein or polypeptide into a cell. For example, using the tat protein sequence, an C3b/C4b CR-like antagonist (such as an anti-C3b/C4b CR-like selective binding agent, small molecule, soluble receptor, or antisense oligonucleotide) can be administered intracellularly to inhibit the activity of an C3b/C4b CR-like molecule. As used herein, the term “C3b/C4b CR-like molecule” refers to both C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecules and C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides as defined herein. Where desired, the C3b/C4b CR-like protein itself may also be internally administered to a cell using these procedures. See also, Strauss, E., “Introducing Proteins Into the Body's Cells”, Science, 285:1466-1467 (1999).

[0257] Therapeutic Uses

[0258] A non-exclusive list of acute and chronic diseases which can be treated, diagnosed, ameliorated, or prevented with the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention is set forth below.

[0259] C3b/C4b CR-related protein may act to stimulate the activation of the complement system, which acts alone and in conjunction with antibodies to destroy cells that are foreign to the host and is a main defense against bacterial and viral infections. The ability of a binding partner to bind to and activate C3b/C4b CR-related protein may lead to complement activation. Such a binding partner can be an agonist of C3b/C4b-CR related protein, such as antibody, peptibody, peptide, carbohydrate, polynucleotide, or small molecular weight organic molecule. Agonists of C3b/C4b CR-related protein may be used to prevent and treat conditions characterized by insufficient or defective complement activation, such as bacterial and viral infections.

[0260] Alternatively, it may be desirable to use an antagonist of C3b/C4b CR-related protein to block complement activation. An antagonist would be useful for preventing and treating conditions characterized by excessive complement activation, particularly immune system disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psioriatic arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory joint disease, autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, transplant rejection, and graft versus host disease. Antagonists would also be useful for prevent or treating undesired complement-mediated damage to cells and tissues. In one embodiment, an antagonist comprises a soluble domain of a C3b/C4b CR-related protein.

[0261] Other uses for agonists and antagonists of C3b/C4b CR-like molecules include the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of nervous system disorders, such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, brain injury, and Parkinson's disease; damaged tissues, such as by wounds and burns; ischemic conditions, such as atherosclerosis, restenosis, myocardial infarction, angioplasty, hypertension, and ischemia; metabolic disorders, such as obesity, diabetes, and cachexia; and reproductive disorders, infertility, miscarriage, preterm labor and delivery, and endometriosis.

[0262] Other diseases associated with undesirable levels of C3b/C4b CR-related protein are encompassed within the scope of the invention. Undesirable levels include excessive and/or sub-normal levels of C3b/C4b CR-related protein as described herein.

[0263] C3b/C4b CR-like Compositions and Administration

[0264] Therapeutic compositions are within the scope of the present invention. Such C3B/C4B CR-like pharmaceutical compositions may comprise a therapeutically effective amount of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or an C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecule in admixture with a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable formulation agent selected for suitability with the mode of administration. Pharmaceutical compositions may comprise a therapeutically effective amount of one or more C3b/C4b CR-like selective binding agents in admixture with a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable formulation agent selected for suitability with the mode of administration.

[0265] Acceptable formulation materials preferably are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed.

[0266] The pharmaceutical composition may contain formulation materials for modifying, maintaining or preserving, for example, the pH, osmolarity, viscosity, clarity, color, isotonicity, odor, sterility, stability, rate of dissolution or release, adsorption or penetration of the composition. Suitable formulation materials include, but are not limited to, amino acids (such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine or lysine), antimicrobials, antioxidants (such as ascorbic acid, sodium sulfite or sodium hydrogen-sulfite), buffers (such as borate, bicarbonate, Tris-HCl, citrates, phosphates, other organic acids), bulking agents (such as mannitol or glycine), chelating agents (such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)), complexing agents (such as caffeine, polyvinylpyrrolidone, beta-cyclodextrin or hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin), fillers, monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates (such as glucose, mannose, or dextrins), proteins (such as serum albumin, gelatin or immunoglobulins), coloring, flavoring and diluting agents, emulsifying agents, hydrophilic polymers (such as polyvinylpyrrolidone), low molecular weight polypeptides, salt-forming counterions (such as sodium), preservatives (such as benzalkonium chloride, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, thimerosal, phenethyl alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben, chlorhexidine, sorbic acid or hydrogen peroxide), solvents (such as glycerin, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol), sugar alcohols (such as mannitol or sorbitol), suspending agents, surfactants or wetting agents (such as pluronics, PEG, sorbitan esters, polysorbates such as polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, triton, tromethamine, lecithin, cholesterol, tyloxapal), stability enhancing agents (sucrose or sorbitol), tonicity enhancing agents (such as alkali metal halides (preferably sodium or potassium chloride), mannitol sorbitol), delivery vehicles, diluents, excipients and/or pharmaceutical adjuvants. (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18^(th) Edition, A. R. Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Company [1990]).

[0267] The optimal pharmaceutical composition will be determined by one skilled in the art depending upon, for example, the intended route of administration, delivery format, and desired dosage. See for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, supra. Such compositions may influence the physical state, stability, rate of in vivo release, and rate of in vivo clearance of the C3b/C4b CR-like molecule.

[0268] The primary vehicle or carrier in a pharmaceutical composition may be either aqueous or non-aqueous in nature. For example, a suitable vehicle or carrier may be water for injection, physiological saline solution, or artificial cerebrospinal fluid, possibly supplemented with other materials common in compositions for parenteral administration. Neutral buffered saline or saline mixed with serum albumin are further exemplary vehicles. Other exemplary pharmaceutical compositions comprise Tris buffer of about pH 7.0-8.5, or acetate buffer of about pH 4.0-5.5, which may further include sorbitol or a suitable substitute therefor. In one embodiment of the present invention, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide compositions may be prepared for storage by mixing the selected composition having the desired degree of purity with optional formulation agents (Remington 's Pharmaceutical Sciences, supra) in the form of a lyophilized cake or an aqueous solution. Further, the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide product may be formulated as a lyophilizate using appropriate excipients such as sucrose.

[0269] The C3b/C4b CR-like pharmaceutical compositions can be selected for parenteral delivery. Alternatively, the compositions may be selected for inhalation or for delivery through the digestive tract, such as orally. The preparation of such pharmaceutically acceptable compositions is within the skill of the art.

[0270] The formulation components are present in concentrations that are acceptable to the site of administration. For example, buffers are used to maintain the composition at physiological pH or at slightly lower pH, typically within a pH range of from about 5 to about 8.

[0271] When parenteral administration is contemplated, the therapeutic compositions for use in this invention may be in the form of a pyrogen-free, parenterally acceptable aqueous solution comprising the desired C3b/C4b CR-like molecule in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. A particularly suitable vehicle for parenteral injection is sterile distilled water in which a C3b/C4b CR-like molecule is formulated as a sterile, isotonic solution, properly preserved. Yet another preparation can involve the formulation of the desired molecule with an agent, such as injectable microspheres, bio-erodible particles, polymeric compounds (polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid), or beads, or liposomes, that provides for the controlled or sustained release of the product which may then be delivered as a depot injection. Hyaluronic acid may also be used, and this may have the effect of promoting sustained duration in the circulation. Other suitable means for the introduction of the desired molecule include implantable drug delivery devices.

[0272] In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition may be formulated for inhalation. For example, an C3b/C4b CR-like molecule may be formulated as a dry powder for inhalation. C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecule inhalation solutions may also be formulated with a propellant for aerosol delivery. In yet another embodiment, solutions may be nebulized. Pulmonary administration is further described in PCT application no. PCT/US94/001875, which describes pulmonary delivery of chemically modified proteins.

[0273] It is also contemplated that certain formulations may be administered orally. In one embodiment of the present invention, C3b/C4b CR-like molecules which are administered in this fashion can be formulated with or without those carriers customarily used in the compounding of solid dosage forms such as tablets and capsules. For example, a capsule may be designed to release the active portion of the formulation at the point in the gastrointestinal tract when bioavailability is maximized and pre-systemic degradation is minimized. Additional agents can be included to facilitate absorption of the C3b/C4b CR-like molecule. Diluents, flavorings, low melting point waxes, vegetable oils, lubricants, suspending agents, tablet disintegrating agents, and binders may also be employed.

[0274] Another pharmaceutical composition may involve an effective quantity of C3b/C4b CR-like molecules in a mixture with non-toxic excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. By dissolving the tablets in sterile water, or other appropriate vehicle, solutions can be prepared in unit dose form. Suitable excipients include, but are not limited to, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate or bicarbonate, lactose, or calcium phosphate; or binding agents, such as starch, gelatin, or acacia; or lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate, stearic acid, or talc.

[0275] Additional C3b/C4b CR-like pharmaceutical compositions will be evident to those skilled in the art, including formulations involving C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides in sustained- or controlled-delivery formulations. Techniques for formulating a variety of other sustained- or controlled-delivery means, such as liposome carriers, bio-erodible microparticles or porous beads and depot injections, are also known to those skilled in the art. See for example, PCT/US93/00829 which describes controlled release of porous polymeric microparticles for the delivery of pharmaceutical compositions. Additional examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable polymer matrices in the form of shaped articles, e.g. films, or microcapsules. Sustained release matrices may include polyesters, hydrogels, polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gamma ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al., Biopolymers, 22:547-556 (1983)), poly (2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) (Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 15:167-277 (1981) and Langer, Chem. Tech., 12:98-105 (1982)), ethylene vinyl acetate (Langer et al., supra) or poly-D(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988). Sustained-release compositions also may include liposomes, which can be prepared by any of several methods known in the art. See e.g., Eppstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82:3688-3692 (1985); EP 36,676; EP 88,046; EP 143,949.

[0276] The C3b/C4b CR-like pharmaceutical composition to be used for in vivo administration typically must be sterile. This may be accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes. Where the composition is lyophilized, sterilization using these methods may be conducted either prior to, or following, lyophilization and reconstitution. The composition for parenteral administration may be stored in lyophilized form or in solution. In addition, parenteral compositions generally are placed into a container having a sterile access port, for example, an intravenous solution bag or vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

[0277] Once the pharmaceutical composition has been formulated, it may be stored in sterile vials as a solution, suspension, gel, emulsion, solid, or a dehydrated or lyophilized powder. Such formulations may be stored either in a ready-to-use form or in a form (e.g., lyophilized) requiring reconstitution prior to administration.

[0278] In a specific embodiment, the present invention is directed to kits for producing a single-dose administration unit. The kits may each contain both a first container having a dried protein and a second container having an aqueous formulation. Also included within the scope of this invention are kits containing single and multi-chambered pre-filled syringes (e.g., liquid syringes and lyosyringes).

[0279] An effective amount of an C3b/C4b CR-like pharmaceutical composition to be employed therapeutically will depend, for example, upon the therapeutic context and objectives. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the appropriate dosage levels for treatment will thus vary depending, in part, upon the molecule delivered, the indication for which the C3b/C4b CR-like molecule is being used, the route of administration, and the size (body weight, body surface or organ size) and condition (the age and general health) of the patient. Accordingly, the clinician may titer the dosage and modify the route of administration to obtain the optimal therapeutic effect. A typical dosage may range from about 0.1 μg/kg to up to about 100 mg/kg or more, depending on the factors mentioned above. In other embodiments, the dosage may range from 0.1 μg/kg up to about 100 mg/kg; or 1 μg/kg up to about 100 mg/kg; or 5 μg/kg up to about 100 mg/kg.

[0280] The frequency of dosing will depend upon the pharmacokinetic parameters of the C3b/C4b CR-like molecule in the formulation used. Typically, a clinician will administer the composition until a dosage is reached that achieves the desired effect. The composition may therefore be administered as a single dose, or as two or more doses (which may or may not contain the same amount of the desired molecule) over time, or as a continuous infusion via implantation device or catheter. Further refinement of the appropriate dosage is routinely made by those of ordinary skill in the art and is within the ambit of tasks routinely performed by them. Appropriate dosages may be ascertained through use of appropriate dose-response data.

[0281] The route of administration of the pharmaceutical composition is in accord with known methods, e.g. oral, injection by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intracerebral (intra-parenchymal), intracerebroventricular, intramuscular, intra-ocular, intraarterial, intraportal, or intralesional routes, or by sustained release systems or implantation device. Where desired, the compositions may be administered by bolus injection or continuously by infusion, or by implantation device.

[0282] Alternatively or additionally, the composition may be administered locally via implantation of a membrane, sponge, or other appropriate material on to which the desired molecule has been absorbed or encapsulated. Where an implantation device is used, the device may be implanted into any suitable tissue or organ, and delivery of the desired molecule may be via diffusion, timed release bolus, or continuous administration.

[0283] In some cases, it may be desirable to use C3b/C4b CR-like pharmaceutical compositions in an ex vivo manner. In such instances, cells, tissues, or organs that have been removed from the patient are exposed to C3b/C4b CR-like pharmaceutical compositions after which the cells, tissues and/or organs are subsequently implanted back into the patient.

[0284] In other cases, an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide can be delivered by implanting certain cells that have been genetically engineered, using methods such as those described herein, to express and secrete the polypeptide. Such cells may be animal or human cells, and may be autologous, heterologous, or xenogeneic. Optionally, the cells may be immortalized. In order to decrease the chance of an immunological response, the cells may be encapsulated to avoid infiltration of surrounding tissues. The encapsulation materials are typically biocompatible, semi-permeable polymeric enclosures or membranes that allow the release of the protein product(s) but prevent the destruction of the cells by the patient's immune system or by other detrimental factors from the surrounding tissues.

[0285] Additional embodiments of the present invention relate to cells and methods (e.g., homologous recombination and/or other recombinant production methods) for both the in vitro production of therapeutic polypeptides and for the production and delivery of therapeutic polypeptides by gene therapy or cell therapy. Homologous and other recombination methods may be used to modify a cell that contains a normally transcriptionally silent C3b/C4b CR-like gene, or an under expressed gene, and thereby produce a cell which expresses therapeutically efficacious amounts of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides.

[0286] Homologous recombination is a technique originally developed for targeting genes to induce or correct mutations in transcriptionally active genes (Kucherlapati, Prog. in Nucl. Acid Res. & Mol. Biol., 36:301, 1989). The basic technique was developed as a method for introducing specific mutations into specific regions of the mammalian genome (Thomas et al., Cell, 44:419-428, 1986; Thomas and Capecchi, Cell, 51:503-512, 1987; Doetschman et al.; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 85:8583-8587, 1988) or to correct specific mutations within defective genes (Doetschman et al., Nature, 330:576-578, 1987). Exemplary homologous recombination techniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,071 (EP 9193051, EP Publication No. 505500; PCT/US90/07642, International Publication No. WO 91/09955).

[0287] Through homologous recombination, the DNA sequence to be inserted into the genome can be directed to a specific region of the gene of interest by attaching it to targeting DNA. The targeting DNA is a nucleotide sequence that is complementary (homologous) to a region of the genomic DNA. Small pieces of targeting DNA that are complementary to a specific region of the genome are put in contact with the parental strand during the DNA replication process. It is a general property of DNA that has been inserted into a cell to hybridize, and therefore, recombine with other pieces of endogenous DNA through shared homologous regions. If this complementary strand is attached to an oligonucleotide that contains a mutation or a different sequence or an additional nucleotide, it too is incorporated into the newly synthesized strand as a result of the recombination. As a result of the proofreading function, it is possible for the new sequence of DNA to serve as the template. Thus, the transferred DNA is incorporated into the genome.

[0288] Attached to these pieces of targeting DNA are regions of DNA which may interact with or control the expression of a C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, e.g., flanking sequences. For example, a promoter/enhancer element, a suppresser, or an exogenous transcription modulatory element is inserted in the genome of the intended host cell in proximity and orientation sufficient to influence the transcription of DNA encoding the desired C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. The control element controls a portion of the DNA present in the host cell genome. Thus, the expression of the desired C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide may be achieved not by transfection of DNA that encodes the C3b/C4b CR-like gene itself, but rather by the use of targeting DNA (containing regions of homology with the endogenous gene of interest) coupled with DNA regulatory segments that provide the endogenous gene sequence with recognizable signals for transcription of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide.

[0289] In an exemplary method, the expression of a desired targeted gene in a cell (i.e., a desired endogenous cellular gene) is altered via homologous recombination into the cellular genome at a preselected site, by the introduction of DNA which includes at least a regulatory sequence, an exon and a splice donor site. These components are introduced into the chromosomal (genomic) DNA in such a manner that this, in effect, results in the production of a new transcription unit (in which the regulatory sequence, the exon and the splice donor site present in the DNA construct are operatively linked to the endogenous gene). As a result of the introduction of these components into the chromosomal DNA, the expression of the desired endogenous gene is altered.

[0290] Altered gene expression, as described herein, encompasses activating (or causing to be expressed) a gene which is normally silent (unexpressed) in the cell as obtained, as well as increasing the expression of a gene which is not expressed at physiologically significant levels in the cell as obtained. The embodiments further encompass changing the pattern of regulation or induction such that it is different from the pattern of regulation or induction that occurs in the cell as obtained, and reducing (including eliminating) the expression of a gene which is expressed in the cell as obtained.

[0291] One method by which homologous recombination can be used to increase, or cause, C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide production from a cell's endogenous C3b/C4b CR-like gene involves first using homologous recombination to place a recombination sequence from a site-specific recombination system (e.g., Cre/loxP, FLP/FRT) (Sauer, Current Opinion In Biotechnology, 5:521-527, 1994; Sauer, Methods In Enzymology, 225:890-900, 1993) upstream (that is, 5′ to) of the cell's endogenous genomic C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide coding region. A plasmid containing a recombination site homologous to the site that was placed just upstream of the genomic C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide coding region is introduced into the modified cell line along with the appropriate recombinase enzyme. This recombinase causes the plasmid to integrate, via the plasmid's recombination site, into the recombination site located just upstream of the genomic C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide coding region in the cell line (Baubonis and Sauer, Nucleic Acids Res., 21:2025-2029, 1993; O'Gorman et al., Science, 251:1351-1355, 1991). Any flanking sequences known to increase transcription (e.g., enhancer/promoter, intron, translational enhancer), if properly positioned in this plasmid, would integrate in such a manner as to create a new or modified transcriptional unit resulting in de novo or increased C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide production from the cell's endogenous C3b/C4b CR-like gene.

[0292] A further method to use the cell line in which the site specific recombination sequence had been placed just upstream of the cell's endogenous genomic C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide coding region is to use homologous recombination to introduce a second recombination site elsewhere in the cell line's genome. The appropriate recombinase enzyme is then introduced into the two-recombination-site cell line, causing a recombination event (deletion, inversion, translocation) (Sauer, Current Opinion In Biotechnology, supra, 1994; Sauer, Methods In Enzymology, supra, 1993) that would create a new or modified transcriptional unit resulting in de novo or increased C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide production from the cell's endogenous C3b/C4b CR-like gene.

[0293] An additional approach for increasing, or causing, the expression of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide from a cell's endogenous C3b/C4b CR-like gene involves increasing, or causing, the expression of a gene or genes (e.g., transcription factors) and/or decreasing the expression of a gene or genes (e.g., transcriptional repressors) in a manner which results in de novo or increased C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide production from the cell's endogenous C3b/C4b CR-like gene. This method includes the introduction of a non-naturally occurring polypeptide (e.g., a polypeptide comprising a site specific DNA binding domain fused to a transcriptional factor domain) into the cell such that de novo or increased C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide production from the cell's endogenous C3b/C4b CR-like gene results.

[0294] The present invention further relates to DNA constructs useful in the method of altering expression of a target gene. In certain embodiments, the exemplary DNA constructs comprise: (a) one or more targeting sequences; (b) a regulatory sequence; (c) an exon; and (d) an unpaired splice-donor site. The targeting sequence in the DNA construct directs the integration of elements (a)-(d) into a target gene in a cell such that the elements (b)-(d) are operatively linked to sequences of the endogenous target gene. In another embodiment, the DNA constructs comprise: (a) one or more targeting sequences, (b) a regulatory sequence, (c) an exon, (d) a splice-donor site, (e) an intron, and (f) a splice-acceptor site, wherein the targeting sequence directs the integration of elements (a)-(f) such that the elements of (b)-(f) are operatively linked to the endogenous gene. The targeting sequence is homologous to the preselected site in the cellular chromosomal DNA with which homologous recombination is to occur. In the construct, the exon is generally 3′ of the regulatory sequence and the splice-donor site is 3′ of the exon.

[0295] If the sequence of a particular gene is known, such as the nucleic acid sequence of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide presented herein, a piece of DNA that is complementary to a selected region of the gene can be synthesized or otherwise obtained, such as by appropriate restriction of the native DNA at specific recognition sites bounding the region of interest. This piece serves as a targeting sequence(s) upon insertion into the cell and will hybridize to its homologous region within the genome. If this hybridization occurs during DNA replication, this piece of DNA, and any additional sequence attached thereto, will act as an Okazaki fragment and will be incorporated into the newly synthesized daughter strand of DNA. The present invention, therefore, includes nucleotides encoding a C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, which nucleotides may be used as targeting sequences.

[0296] C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide cell therapy, e.g., the implantation of cells producing C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides, is also contemplated. This embodiment involves implanting cells capable of synthesizing and secreting a biologically active form of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. Such C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide-producing cells can be cells that are natural producers of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides or may be recombinant cells whose ability to produce C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides has been augmented by transformation with a gene encoding the desired C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide or with a gene augmenting the expression of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. Such a modification may be accomplished by means of a vector suitable for delivering the gene as well as promoting its expression and secretion. In order to minimize a potential immunological reaction in patients being administered an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, as may occur with the administration of a polypeptide of a foreign species, it is preferred that the natural cells producing C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide be of human origin and produce human C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide. Likewise, it is preferred that the recombinant cells producing C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide be transformed with an expression vector containing a gene encoding a human C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide.

[0297] Implanted cells may be encapsulated to avoid the infiltration of surrounding tissue. Human or non-human animal cells may be implanted in patients in biocompatible, semipermeable polymeric enclosures or membranes that allow the release of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, but that prevent the destruction of the cells by the patient's immune system or by other detrimental factors from the surrounding tissue. Alternatively, the patient's own cells, transformed to produce C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides ex vivo, may be implanted directly into the patient without such encapsulation.

[0298] Techniques for the encapsulation of living cells are known in the art, and the preparation of the encapsulated cells and their implantation in patients may be routinely accomplished. For example, Baetge et al. (WO95/05452; PCT/US94/09299) describe membrane capsules containing genetically engineered cells for the effective delivery of biologically active molecules. The capsules are biocompatible and are easily retrievable. The capsules encapsulate cells transfected with recombinant DNA molecules comprising DNA sequences coding for biologically active molecules operatively linked to promoters that are not subject to down regulation in vivo upon implantation into a mammalian host. The devices provide for the delivery of the molecules from living cells to specific sites within a recipient. In addition, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,892,538, 5,011,472, and 5,106,627. A system for encapsulating living cells is described in PCT Application no. PCT/US91/00157 of Aebischer et al. See also, PCT Application no. PCT/US91/00155 of Aebischer et al., Winn et al., Exper. Neurol., 113:322-329 (1991), Aebischer et al., Exper. Neurol., 111:269-275 (1991); and Tresco et al., ASAIO, 38:17-23 (1992).

[0299] In vivo and in vitro gene therapy delivery of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides is also envisioned. One example of a gene therapy technique is to use the C3b/C4b CR-like gene (either genomic DNA, cDNA, and/or synthetic DNA) encoding a C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide which may be operably linked to a constitutive or inducible promoter to form a “gene therapy DNA construct”. The promoter may be homologous or heterologous to the endogenous C3b/C4b CR-like gene, provided that it is active in the cell or tissue type into which the construct will be inserted. Other components of the gene therapy DNA construct may optionally include, DNA molecules designed for site-specific integration (e.g., endogenous sequences useful for homologous recombination), tissue-specific promoter, enhancer(s) or silencer(s), DNA molecules capable of providing a selective advantage over the parent cell, DNA molecules useful as labels to identify transformed cells, negative selection systems, cell specific binding agents (as, for example, for cell targeting), cell-specific internalization factors, and transcription factors to enhance expression by a vector as well as factors to enable vector manufacture.

[0300] A gene therapy DNA construct can then be introduced into cells (either ex vivo or in vivo) using viral or non-viral vectors. One means for introducing the gene therapy DNA construct is by means of viral vectors as described herein. Certain vectors, such as retroviral vectors, will deliver the DNA construct to the chromosomal DNA of the cells, and the gene can integrate into the chromosomal DNA. Other vectors will function as episomes, and the gene therapy DNA construct will remain in the cytoplasm.

[0301] In yet other embodiments, regulatory elements can be included for the controlled expression of the C3b/C4b CR-like gene in the target cell. Such elements are turned on in response to an appropriate effector. In this way, a therapeutic polypeptide can be expressed when desired. One conventional control means involves the use of small molecule dimerizers or rapalogs (as described in WO9641865 (PCT/US96/099486); WO9731898 (PCT/US97/03137) and WO9731899 (PCT/US95/03157) used to dimerize chimeric proteins which contain a small molecule-binding domain and a domain capable of initiating biological process, such as a DNA-binding protein or transcriptional activation protein. The dimerization of the proteins can be used to initiate transcription of the transgene.

[0302] An alternative regulation technology uses a method of storing proteins expressed from the gene of interest inside the cell as an aggregate or cluster. The gene of interest is expressed as a fusion protein that includes a conditional aggregation domain which results in the retention of the aggregated protein in the endoplasmic reticulum. The stored proteins are stable and inactive inside the cell. The proteins can be released, however, by administering a drug (e.g., small molecule ligand) that removes the conditional aggregation domain and thereby specifically breaks apart the aggregates or clusters so that the proteins may be secreted from the cell. See, Science 287:816-817, and 826-830 (2000).

[0303] Other suitable control means or gene switches include, but are not limited to, the following systems. Mifepristone (RU486) is used as a progesterone antagonist. The binding of a modified progesterone receptor ligand-binding domain to the progesterone antagonist activates transcription by forming a dimer of two transcription factors which then pass into the nucleus to bind DNA. The ligand binding domain is modified to eliminate the ability of the receptor to bind to the natural ligand. The modified steroid hormone receptor system is further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,364,791; WO9640911, and WO9710337.

[0304] Yet another control system uses ecdysone (a fruit fly steroid hormone) which binds to and activates an ecdysone receptor (cytoplasmic receptor). The receptor then translocates to the nucleus to bind a specific DNA response element (promoter from ecdysone-responsive gene). The ecdysone receptor includes a transactivation domain/DNA-binding domain/ligand-binding domain to initiate transcription. The ecdysone system is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,578; WO9738117; WO9637609; and WO9303162.

[0305] Another control means uses a positive tetracycline-controllable transactivator. This system involves a mutated tet repressor protein DNA-binding domain (mutated tet R-4 amino acid changes which resulted in a reverse tetracycline-regulated transactivator protein, i.e., it binds to a tet operator in the presence of tetracycline) linked to a polypeptide which activates transcription. Such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,464,758; 5,650,298 and 5,654,168.

[0306] Additional expression control systems and nucleic acid constructs are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,741,679 and 5,834,186, to Innovir Laboratories Inc.

[0307] In vivo gene therapy may be accomplished by introducing the gene encoding an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide into cells via local injection of an C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecule or by other appropriate viral or non-viral delivery vectors. Hefti, Neurobiology, 25:1418-1435 (1994). For example, a nucleic acid molecule encoding an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide may be contained in an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector for delivery to the targeted cells (e.g., Johnson, International Publication No. WO95/34670; International Application No. PCT/US95/07178). The recombinant AAV genome typically contains AAV inverted terminal repeats flanking a DNA sequence encoding an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide operably linked to functional promoter and polyadenylation sequences.

[0308] Alternative suitable viral vectors include, but are not limited to, retrovirus, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, lentivirus, hepatitis virus, parvovirus, papovavirus, poxvirus, alphavirus, coronavirus, rhabdovirus, paramyxovirus, and papilloma virus vectors. U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,344 describes an in vivo viral-mediated gene transfer system involving a recombinant neurotrophic HSV-1 vector. U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,346 provides examples of a process for providing a patient with a therapeutic protein by the delivery of human cells which have been treated in vitro to insert a DNA segment encoding a therapeutic protein. Additional methods and materials for the practice of gene therapy techniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,236 involving adenoviral vectors; U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,510 involving retroviral vectors; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,399 involving retroviral vectors expressing cytokines.

[0309] Nonviral delivery methods include, but are not limited to, liposome-mediated transfer, naked DNA delivery (direct injection), receptor-mediated transfer (ligand-DNA complex), electroporation, calcium phosphate precipitation, and microparticle bombardment (e.g., gene gun). Gene therapy materials and methods may also include the use of inducible promoters, tissue-specific enhancer-promoters, DNA sequences designed for site-specific integration, DNA sequences capable of providing a selective advantage over the parent cell, labels to identify transformed cells, negative selection systems and expression control systems (safety measures), cell-specific binding agents (for cell targeting), cell-specific internalization factors, and transcription factors to enhance expression by a vector as well as methods of vector manufacture. Such additional methods and materials for the practice of gene therapy techniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,154 involving electroporation techniques; WO96/40958 involving nuclear ligands; U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,559 describing a lipoprotein-containing system for gene delivery; U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,954 involving liposome carriers; U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,875 concerning methods for calcium phosphate transfection; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050 wherein biologically active particles are propelled at cells at a speed whereby the particles penetrate the surface of the cells and become incorporated into the interior of the cells.

[0310] It is also contemplated that C3b/C4b CR-like gene therapy or cell therapy can further include the delivery of one or more additional polypeptide(s) in the same or a different cell(s). Such cell's may be separately introduced into the patient, or the cells may be contained in a single implantable device, such as the encapsulating membrane described above, or the cells may be separately modified by means of viral vectors.

[0311] A means to increase endogenous C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide expression in a cell via gene therapy is to insert one or more enhancer elements into the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide promoter, where the enhancer element(s) can serve to increase transcriptional activity of the C3b/C4b CR-like gene. The enhancer element(s) used will be selected based on the tissue in which one desires to activate the gene (s); enhancer elements known to confer promoter activation in that tissue will be selected. For example, if a gene encoding a C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide is to be “turned on” in T-cells, the lck promoter enhancer element may be used. Here, the functional portion of the transcriptional element to be added may be inserted into a fragment of DNA containing the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide promoter (and optionally, inserted into a vector and/or 5′ and/or 3′ flanking sequence(s), etc.) using standard cloning techniques. This construct, known as a “homologous recombination construct”, can then be introduced into the desired cells either ex vivo or in vivo.

[0312] Gene therapy also can be used t o decrease C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide expression by modifying the nucleotide sequence of the endogenous promoter(s). Such modification is typically accomplished via homologous recombination methods. For example, a DNA molecule containing all or a portion of the promoter of the C3b/C4b CR-like gene(s) selected for inactivation can be engineered to remove and/or replace pieces of the promoter that regulate transcription. For example the TATA box and/or the binding site of a transcriptional activator of the promoter may be deleted using standard molecular biology techniques; such deletion can inhibit promoter activity thereby repressing the transcription of the corresponding C3b/C4b CR-like gene. The deletion of the TATA box or the transcription activator binding site in the promoter may be accomplished by generating a DNA construct comprising all or the relevant portion of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide promoter(s) (from the same or a related species as the C3b/C4b CR-like gene(s) to be regulated) in which one or more of the TATA box and/or transcriptional activator binding site nucleotides are mutated via substitution, deletion and/or insertion of one or more nucleotides. As a result, the TATA box and/or activator binding site has decreased activity or is rendered completely inactive. The construct will typically contain at least about 500 bases of DNA that correspond to the native (endogenous) 5′ and 3′ DNA sequences adjacent to the promoter segment that has been modified. The construct may be introduced into the appropriate cells (either ex vivo or in vivo) either directly or via a viral vector as described herein. Typically, the integration of the construct into the genomic DNA of the cells will be via homologous recombination, where the 5′ and 3′ DNA sequences in the promoter construct can serve to help integrate the modified promoter region via hybridization to the endogenous chromosomal DNA.

[0313] Additional Uses of C3b/C4b CR-like Nucleic Acids and Polypeptides

[0314] Nucleic acid molecules of the present invention (including those that do not themselves encode biologically active polypeptides) may be used to map the locations of the C3b/C4b CR-like gene and related genes on chromosomes. Mapping may be done by techniques known in the art, such as PCR amplification and in situ hybridization.

[0315] C3b/C4b CR-like nucleic acid molecules (including those that do not themselves encode biologically active polypeptides), may be useful as hybridization probes in diagnostic assays to test, either qualitatively or quantitatively, for the presence of an C3b/C4b CR-like DNA or corresponding RNA in mammalian tissue or bodily fluid samples.

[0316] The C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides may be used (simultaneously or sequentially) in combination with one or more cytokines, growth factors, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and/or chemotherapeutic agents as is appropriate for the indication being treated.

[0317] Other methods may also be employed where it is desirable to inhibit the activity of one or more C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. Such inhibition may be effected by nucleic acid molecules which are complementary to and hybridize to expression control sequences (triple helix formation) or to C3b/C4b CR-like mRNA. For example, antisense DNA or RNA molecules, which have a sequence that is complementary to at least a portion of the selected C3b/C4b CR-like gene(s) can be introduced into the cell. Anti-sense probes may be designed by available techniques using the sequence of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide disclosed herein. Typically, each such antisense molecule will be complementary to the start site (5′ end) of each selected C3b/C4b CR-like gene. When the antisense molecule then hybridizes to the corresponding C3b/C4b CR-like mRNA, translation of this mRNA is prevented or reduced. Anti-sense inhibitors provide information relating to the decrease or absence of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide in a cell or organism.

[0318] Alternatively, gene therapy may be employed to create a dominant-negative inhibitor of one or more C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptides. In this situation, the DNA encoding a mutant polypeptide of each selected C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide can be prepared and introduced into the cells of a patient using either viral or non-viral methods as described herein. Each such mutant is typically designed to compete with endogenous polypeptide in its biological role.

[0319] In addition, an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, whether biologically active or not, may be used as an immunogen, that is, the polypeptide contains at least one epitope to which antibodies may be raised. Selective binding agents that bind to an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide (as described herein) may be used for in vivo and in Vitro diagnostic purposes, including, but not limited to, use in labeled form to detect the presence of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide in a body fluid or cell sample. The antibodies may also be used to prevent, treat, or diagnose a number of diseases and disorders, including those recited herein. The antibodies may bind to an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide so as to diminish or block at least one activity characteristic of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide, or may bind to a polypeptide to increase at least one activity characteristic of an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide (including by increasing the pharmacokinetics of the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide).

1 5 1 10878 DNA Homo sapiens 1 gattagcgcg atgtggcctc gcctggcctt ttgttgctgg ggtctggcgc tcgtttcggg 60 ctgggcgacc tttcagcaga tgtccccgtc gcgcaatttc agcttccgcc tcttccccga 120 gaccgcgccc ggggcccccg ggagtatccc cgcgccgccc gctcctggcg acgaagcggc 180 ggggagcaga gtggagcggc tgggccaggc gttccggcga cgcgtgcggc tgctgcggga 240 gctcagcgag cgcctggagc ttgtcttcct ggtggatgat tcgtccagcg tgggcgaagt 300 caacttccgc agcgagctca tgttcgtccg caagctgctg tccgacttcc ccgtggtgcc 360 cacggccacg cgcgtggcca tcgtgacctt ctcgtccaag aactacgtgg tgccgcgcgt 420 cgattacatc tccacccgcc gcgcgcgcca gcacaagtgc gcgctgctcc tccaagagat 480 ccctgccatc tcctaccgag gtggcggcac ctacaccaag ggcgccttcc agcaagccgc 540 gcaaattctt cttcatgcta gagaaaactc aacaaaagtt gtatttctca tcactgatgg 600 atattccaat gggggagacc ctagaccaat tgcagcgtca ctgcgagatt caggagtgga 660 gatcttcact tttggcatat ggcaagggaa cattcgagag ctgaatgaca tggcttccac 720 cccaaaggag gagcactgtt acctgctaca cagttttgaa gaatttgagg ctttagctcg 780 ccgggcattg catgaagatc taccttctgg gagttttatt caagatgata tggtccactg 840 ctcttatctt tgtgatgaag gcaaggactg ctgtgaccga atgggaagct gcaaatgtgg 900 gacacacaca ggccattttg agtgcatctg tgaaaagggg tattacggga aaggtctgca 960 gtatgaatgc acagcttgcc catcggggac atacaaacct gaaggctcac caggaggaat 1020 cagcagttgc attccatgtc ctgatgaaaa tcacacctct ccacctggaa gcacatcccc 1080 tgaagactgt gtctgcagag agggatacag ggcatctggc cagacctgtg aacttgtcca 1140 ctgccctgcc ctgaagcctc ccgaaaatgg ttactttatc caaaacactt gcaacaacca 1200 cttcaatgca gcctgtgggg tccgatgtca ccctggattt gatcttgtgg gaagcagcat 1260 catcttatgt ctacccaatg gtttgtggtc cggttcagag agctactgca gagtaagaac 1320 atgtcctcat ctccgccagc cgaaacatgg ccacatcagc tgttctacaa gggaaatgtt 1380 atataagaca acatgtttgg ttgcctgtga tgaagggtac agactagaag gcagtgataa 1440 gcttacttgt caaggaaaca gccagtggga tgggccagaa ccccggtgtg tggagcgcca 1500 ctgttccacc tttcagatgc ccaaagatat catcatatcc ccccacaact gtggcaagca 1560 gccagccaaa tttgggacga tctgctatgt aagttgccgc caagggttca ttttatctgg 1620 agtcaaagaa atgctgagat gtaccacttc tggaaaatgg aatgtcggag ttcaggcagc 1680 tgtgtgtaaa gacgtggagg ctcctcaaat caactgtcct aaggacatag aggctaagac 1740 tctggaacag caagattctg ccaatgttac ctggcagatt ccaacagcta aagacaactc 1800 tggtgaaaag gtgtcagtcc acgttcatcc agctttcacc ccaccttacc ttttcccagt 1860 tggagatgtt gctatcgtat acacggcaac tgacctatcc ggcaaccagg ccagctgcat 1920 tttccatatc aaggttattg atgcagaacc acctgtcata gactggtgca gatctccacc 1980 tcccgtccag gtctcggaga aggtacatgc cgcaagctgg gatgagcctc agttctcaga 2040 caactcaggg gctgaattgg tcattaccag aagtcataca caaggagacc ttttccctca 2100 aggggagact atagtacagt atacagccac tgacccctca ggcaataaca ggacatgtga 2160 tatccatatt gtcataaaag gttctccctg tgaaattcca ttcacacctg taaatgggga 2220 ttttatatgc actccagata atactggagt caactgtaca ttaacttgct tggagggcta 2280 tgatttcaca gaagggtcta ctgacaagta ttattgtgct tatgaagatg gcgtctggaa 2340 accaacatat accactgaat ggccagactg tgccaaaaaa cgttttgcta accacgggtt 2400 caagtccttt gagatgttct acaaagcagc tcgttgtgat gacacagatc tgatgaagaa 2460 gttttctgaa gcatttgaga cgaccctggg aaaaatggtc ccatcatttt gtagtgatgc 2520 agaggacatt gactgcagac tggaggagaa cctgaccaaa aaatattgcc tagaatataa 2580 ttatgactat gaaaatggct ttgcaattgg accaggtggc tggggtgcag ctaataggct 2640 ggattactct tacgatgact tcctggacac tgtgcaagaa acagccacaa gcatcggcaa 2700 tgccaagtcc tcacggatta aaagaagtgc cccattatct gactataaaa ttaagttaat 2760 ttttaacatc acagctagtg tgccattacc cgatgaaaga aatgataccc ttgaatggga 2820 aaatcagcaa cgactccttc agacattgga aactatcaca aataaactga aaaggactct 2880 caacaaagac cccatgtatt cctttcagct tgcatcagaa atacttatag ccgacagcaa 2940 ttcattagaa acaaaaaagg cttccccctt ctgcagacca ggctcagtgc tgagagggcg 3000 tatgtgtgtc aattgccctt tgggaaccta ttataatctg gaacatttca cctgtgaaag 3060 ctgccggatc ggatcctatc aagatgaaga agggcaactt gagtgcaagc tttgcccctc 3120 tgggatgtac acggaatata tccattcaag aaacatctct gattgtaaag ctcagtgtaa 3180 acaaggcacc tactcataca gtggacttga gacttgtgaa tcgtgtccac tgggcactta 3240 tcagccaaaa tttggttccc ggagctgcct ctcgtgtcca gaaaacacct caactgtgaa 3300 aagaggagcc gtgaacattt ctgcatgtgg agttccttgt ccagaaggaa aattctcgcg 3360 ttctgggtta atgccctgtc acccatgtcc tcgtgactat taccaaccta atgcagggaa 3420 ggccttctgc ctggcctgtc ccttttatgg aactacccca ttcgctggtt ccagatccat 3480 cacagaatgt tcaagtttta gttcaacttt ctcagcggca gaggaaagtg tggtgccccc 3540 tgcctctctt ggacatatta aaaagaggca tgaaatcagc agtcaggttt tccatgaatg 3600 cttctttaac ccttgccaca atagtggaac ctgccagcaa cttgggcgtg gttatgtttg 3660 tctctgtcca cttggatata caggcttaaa gtgtgaaaca gacatcgatg agtgcagccc 3720 actgccttgc ctcaacaatg gagtttgtaa agacctagtt ggggaattca tttgtgagtg 3780 cccatcaggt tacacaggtc agcggtgtga agaaaatata aatgagtgta gctccagtcc 3840 ttgtttaaat aaaggaatct gtgttgatgg tgtggctggc tatcgttgca catgtgtgaa 3900 aggatttgta ggcctgcatt gtgaaacaga agtcaatgaa tgccagtcaa acccatgctt 3960 aaataatgca gtctgtgaag accaggttgg gggattcttg tgcaaatgcc cacctggatt 4020 tttgggtacc cgatgtggaa agaacgtcga tgagtgtctc agtcagccat gcaaaaatgg 4080 agctacctgt aaagacggtg ccaatagctt cagatgcctg tgtgcagctg gcttcacagg 4140 atcacactgt gaattgaaca tcaatgaatg tcagtctaat ccatgtagaa atcaggccac 4200 ctgtgtggat gaattaaatt catacagttg taaatgtcag ccaggatttt caggcaaaag 4260 gtgtgaaaca gaacagtcta caggctttaa cctggatttt gaagtttctg gcatctatgg 4320 atatgtcatg ctagatggca tgctcccatc tctccatgct ctaacctgta ccttctggat 4380 gaaatcctct gacgacatga actatggaac accaatctcc tatgcagttg ataacggcag 4440 cgacaatacc ttgctcctga ctgattataa cggctgggtt ctttatgtga atggcaggga 4500 aaagataaca aactgtccct cggtgaatga tggcagatgg catcatattg caatcacttg 4560 gacaagtgcc aatggcatct ggaaagtcta tatcgatggg aaattatctg acggtggtgc 4620 tggcctctct gttggtttgc ccatacctgg tggtggtgcg ttagttctgg ggcaagagca 4680 agacaaaaaa ggagagggat tcagcccagc tgagtctttt gtgggctcca taagccagct 4740 caacctctgg gactatgtcc tgtctccaca gcaggtgaag tcactggcta cctcctgccc 4800 agaggaactc agtaaaggaa acgtgttagc atggcctgat ttcttgtcag gaattgtggg 4860 gaaagtgaag atcgattcta agagcatatt ttgttctgat tgcccacgct taggagggtc 4920 agtgcctcat ctgagaactg catctgaaga tttaaagcca ggttccaaag tcaatctgtt 4980 ctgtgatcca ggcttccagc tggtcgggaa ccctgtgcag tactgtctga atcaaggaca 5040 gtggacacaa ccacttcctc actgtgaacg cattagctgt ggggtgccac ctcctttgga 5100 gaatggcttc cattcagccg atgacttcta tgctggcagc acagtaacct accagtgcaa 5160 caatggctac tatctattgg gtgactcaag gatgttctgt acagataatg ggagctggaa 5220 cggcgtttca ccatcctgcc ttgatgtcga tgagtgtgca gttggatcag attgtagtga 5280 gcatgcttct tgcctgaacg tagatggatc ctacatatgt tcatgtgtcc caccgtacac 5340 aggagatggg aaaaactgtg cagaacctat aaaatgtaag gctccaggaa atccggaaaa 5400 tggccactcc tcaggtgaga tttatacagt aggtgccgaa gtcacatttt cgtgtcagga 5460 aggataccag ttgatgggag taaccaaaat cacatgtttg gagtctggag aatggaatca 5520 tctaatacca tattgtaaag ctgtttcatg tggtaaaccg gctattccag aaaatggttg 5580 cattgaggag ttagcattta cttttggcag caaagtgaca tataggtgta ataaaggata 5640 tactctggcc ggtgataaag aatcatcctg tcttgctaac agttcttgga gtcattcccc 5700 tcctgtgtgt gaaccagtga agtgttctag tccggaaaat ataaataatg gaaaatatat 5760 tttgagtggg cttacctacc tttctactgc atcatattca tgcgatacag gatacagctt 5820 acagggccct tccattattg aatgcacggc ttctggcatc tgggacagag cgccacctgc 5880 ctgtcacctc gtcttctgtg gagaaccacc tgccatcaaa gatgctgtca ttacggggaa 5940 taacttcact ttcaggaaca ccgtcactta cacttgcaaa gaaggctata ctcttgctgg 6000 tcttgacacc attgaatgcc tggccgacgg caagtggagt agaagtgacc agcagtgcct 6060 ggctgtctcc tgtgatgagc cacccattgt ggaccacgcc tctccagaga ctgcccatcg 6120 gctctttgga gacattgcat tctactactg ctctgatggt tacagcctag cagacaattc 6180 ccagcttctc tgcaatgccc agggcaagtg ggtaccccca gaaggtcaag acatgccccg 6240 ttgtatagct catttctgtg aaaaacctcc atcggtttcc tatagcatct tggaatctgt 6300 gagcaaagca aaatttgcag ctggctcagt tgtgagcttt aaatgcatgg aaggctttgt 6360 actgaacacc tcagcaaaga ttgaatgtat gagaggtggg cagtggaacc cttcccccat 6420 gtccatccag tgcatccctg tgcggtgtgg agagccacca agcatcatga atggctatgc 6480 aagtggatca aactacagtt ttggagccat ggtggcttac agctgcaaca aggggttcta 6540 catcaaaggg gaaaagaaga gcacctgcga agccacaggg cagtggagta gtcctatacc 6600 gacgtgccac ccggtatctt gtggtgaacc acctaaggtt gagaatggct ttctggagca 6660 tacaactggc aggatctttg agagtgaagt gaggtatcag tgtaacccgg gctataagtc 6720 agtcggaagt cctgtatttg tctgccaagc caatcgccac tggcacagtg aatcccctct 6780 gatgtgtgtt cctctcgact gtggaaaacc tcccccgatc cagaatggct tcatgaaagg 6840 agaaaacttt gaagtagggt ccaaggttca gtttttctgt aatgagggtt atgagcttgt 6900 tggtgacagt tcttggacat gtcagaaatc tggcaaatgg aataagaagt caaatccaaa 6960 gtgcatgcct gccaagtgcc cagagccgcc cctcttggaa aaccagctag tattaaagga 7020 gttgaccacc gaggtaggag ttgtgacatt ttcctgtaaa gaagggcatg tcctgcaagg 7080 cccctctgtc ctgaaatgct tgccatccca gcaatggaat gactctttcc ctgtttgtaa 7140 gattgttctt tgtaccccac ctcccctaat ttcctttggt gtccccattc cttcttctgc 7200 tcttcatttt ggaagtactg tcaagtattc ttgtgtaggt gggtttttcc taagaggaaa 7260 ttctaccacc ctctgccaac ctgatggcac ctggagctct ccactgccag aatgtgttcc 7320 agtagaatgt ccccaacctg aggaaatccc caatggaatc attgatgtgc aaggccttgc 7380 ctatctcagc acagctctct atacctgcaa gccaggcttt gaattggtgg gaaatactac 7440 caccctttgt ggagaaaatg gtcactggct tggaggaaaa ccaacatgta aagccattga 7500 gtgcctgaaa cccaaggaga ttttgaatgg caaattctct tacacggacc tacactatgg 7560 acagaccgtt acctactctt gcaaccgagg ctttcggctc gaaggtccca gtgccttgac 7620 ctgtttagag acaggtgatt gggatgtaga tgccccatct tgcaatgcca tccactgtga 7680 ttccccacaa cccattgaaa atggttttgt agaaggtgca gattacagct atggtgccat 7740 aatcatctac agttgcttcc ctgggtttca ggtggctggt catgccatgc agacctgtga 7800 agagtcagga tggtcaagtt ccatcccaac atgtatgcca atagactgtg gcctccctcc 7860 tcatatagat tttggagact gtactaaact caaagatgac cagggatatt ttgagcaaga 7920 agacgacatg atggaagttc catatgtgac tcctcaccct ccttatcatt tgggagcagt 7980 ggctaaaacc tgggaaaata caaaggagtc tcctgctaca cattcatcaa actttctgta 8040 tggtaccatg gtttcataca cctgtaatcc aggatatgaa cttctgggga accctgtgct 8100 gatctgccag gaagatggaa cttggaatgg cagtgcacca tcctgcattt caattgaatg 8160 tgacttgcct actgctcctg aaaatggctt tttgcgtttt acagagacta gcatgggaag 8220 tgctgtgcag tatagctgta aacctggaca cattctagtg ggctctgact taaggctttg 8280 tctagagaat agaaagtgga gtggtgcctc cccacgctgt gaagccattt catgcaaaaa 8340 gccaaatcca gtcatgaatg gatccatcaa aggaagcaac tacacatacc tgagcacgtt 8400 gtactatgag tgtgaccccg gatatgtgct gaatggcact gagaggagaa catgccagga 8460 tgacaaaaac tgggatgagg atgagcccat ttgcattcct gtggactgca gttcaccccc 8520 agtctcagcc aatggccagg tgagaggaga cgagtacaca ttccaaaaag agattgaata 8580 cacttgcaat gaagggttct tgcttgaggg agccaggagt cgggtttgtc ttgccaatgg 8640 aagttggagt ggagccactc ccgactgtgt gcctgtcaga tgtgccaccc cgccacaact 8700 ggccaatggg gtgacggaag gcctggacta tggcttcatg aaggaagtaa cattccactg 8760 tcatgagggc tacatcttgc acggtgctcc aaaactcacc tgtcagtcag atggcaactg 8820 ggatgcagag attcctctct gtaaaccagt caactgtgga cctcctgaag atcttgccca 8880 tggtttccct aatggttttt cctttattca tgggggccat atacagtatc agtgctttcc 8940 tggttataag ctccatggaa attcatcaag aaggtgcctc tccaatggct cctggagtgg 9000 cagctcacct tcctgcctgc cttgcagatg ttccacacca gtaattgaat atggaactgt 9060 caatgggaca gattttgact gtggaaaggc agcccggatt cagtgcttca aaggcttcaa 9120 gctcctagga ctttctgaaa tcacctgtga agccgatggc cagtggagct ctgggttccc 9180 ccactgtgaa cacacttctt gtggttctct tccaatgata ccaaatgcgt tcatcagtga 9240 gaccagctct tggaaggaaa atgtgataac ttacagctgc aggtctggat atgtcataca 9300 aggcagttca gatctgattt gtacagagaa aggggtatgg agccagcctt atccagtctg 9360 tgagcccttg tcctgtgggt ccccaccgtc tgtcgccaat gcagtggcaa ctggagaggc 9420 acacacctat gaaagtgaag tgaaactcag atgtctggaa ggttatacga tggatacaga 9480 tacagataca ttcacctgtc agaaagatgg tcgctggttc cctgagagaa tctcctgcag 9540 tcctaaaaaa tgtcctctcc cggaaaacat aacacatata cttgttcatg gggacgattt 9600 cagtgtgaat aggcaagttt ctgtgtcatg tgcagaaggg tatacctttg agggagttaa 9660 catatcagta tgtcagcttg atggaacctg ggagccacca ttctccgatg aatcttgcag 9720 tccagtttct tgtgggaaac ctgaaagtcc agaacatgga tttgtggttg gcagtaaata 9780 cacctttgaa agcacaatta tttatcagtg tgagcctggc tatgaactag aggggaacag 9840 ggaacgcgtc tgccaggaga acagacagtg gagtggaggg gtggcaatat gcaaagagac 9900 caggtgtgaa actccacttg aatttctcaa tgggaaagct gacattgaaa acaggacgac 9960 tggacccaac gtggtatatt cctgcaacag aggctacagt cttgaagggc catctgaggc 10020 acactgcaca gaaaatggaa cctggagcca cccagtccct ctctgcaaac caaatccatg 10080 ccctgttcct tttgtgattc ccgagaatgc tctgctgtct gaaaaggagt tttatgttga 10140 tcagaatgtg tccatcaaat gtagggaagg ttttctgctg cagggccacg gcatcattac 10200 ctgcaacccc gacgagacgt ggacacagac aagcgccaaa tgtgaaaaaa tctcatgtgg 10260 tccaccagct cacgtagaaa atgcaattgc tcgaggcgta cattatcaat atggagacat 10320 gatcacctac tcatgttaca gtggatacat gttggagggt ttcctgagga gtgtttgttt 10380 agaaaatgga acatggacat cacctcctat ttgcagagct gtctgtcgat ttccatgtca 10440 gaatgggggc atctgccaac gcccaaatgc ttgttcctgt ccagagggct ggatggggcg 10500 cctctgtgaa gaaccaatct gcattcttcc ctgtctgaac ggaggtcgct gtgtggcccc 10560 ttaccagtgt gactgcccgc ctggctggac ggggtctcgc tgtcatacag ctgtttgcca 10620 gtctccctgc ttaaatggtg gaaaatgtgt aagaccaaac cgatgtcact gtctttcttc 10680 ttggacggga cataactgtt ccaggaaaag gaggactggg ttttaaccac tgcacgacca 10740 tctggctctc ccaaaagcag gatcatctct cctcggtagt gcctgggcat cctggaactt 10800 atgcaaagaa agtccaacat ggtgctgggt cttgtttagt aaacttgtta cttggggtga 10860 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 10878 2 3571 PRT Homo sapiens 2 Met Trp Pro Arg Leu Ala Phe Cys Cys Trp Gly Leu Ala Leu Val Ser 1 5 10 15 Gly Trp Ala Thr Phe Gln Gln Met Ser Pro Ser Arg Asn Phe Ser Phe 20 25 30 Arg Leu Phe Pro Glu Thr Ala Pro Gly Ala Pro Gly Ser Ile Pro Ala 35 40 45 Pro Pro Ala Pro Gly Asp Glu Ala Ala Gly Ser Arg Val Glu Arg Leu 50 55 60 Gly Gln Ala Phe Arg Arg Arg Val Arg Leu Leu Arg Glu Leu Ser Glu 65 70 75 80 Arg Leu Glu Leu Val Phe Leu Val Asp Asp Ser Ser Ser Val Gly Glu 85 90 95 Val Asn Phe Arg Ser Glu Leu Met Phe Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Ser Asp 100 105 110 Phe Pro Val Val Pro Thr Ala Thr Arg Val Ala Ile Val Thr Phe Ser 115 120 125 Ser Lys Asn Tyr Val Val Pro Arg Val Asp Tyr Ile Ser Thr Arg Arg 130 135 140 Ala Arg Gln His Lys Cys Ala Leu Leu Leu Gln Glu Ile Pro Ala Ile 145 150 155 160 Ser Tyr Arg Gly Gly Gly Thr Tyr Thr Lys Gly Ala Phe Gln Gln Ala 165 170 175 Ala Gln Ile Leu Leu His Ala Arg Glu Asn Ser Thr Lys Val Val Phe 180 185 190 Leu Ile Thr Asp Gly Tyr Ser Asn Gly Gly Asp Pro Arg Pro Ile Ala 195 200 205 Ala Ser Leu Arg Asp Ser Gly Val Glu Ile Phe Thr Phe Gly Ile Trp 210 215 220 Gln Gly Asn Ile Arg Glu Leu Asn Asp Met Ala Ser Thr Pro Lys Glu 225 230 235 240 Glu His Cys Tyr Leu Leu His Ser Phe Glu Glu Phe Glu Ala Leu Ala 245 250 255 Arg Arg Ala Leu His Glu Asp Leu Pro Ser Gly Ser Phe Ile Gln Asp 260 265 270 Asp Met Val His Cys Ser Tyr Leu Cys Asp Glu Gly Lys Asp Cys Cys 275 280 285 Asp Arg Met Gly Ser Cys Lys Cys Gly Thr His Thr Gly His Phe Glu 290 295 300 Cys Ile Cys Glu Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Gln Tyr Glu Cys 305 310 315 320 Thr Ala Cys Pro Ser Gly Thr Tyr Lys Pro Glu Gly Ser Pro Gly Gly 325 330 335 Ile Ser Ser Cys Ile Pro Cys Pro Asp Glu Asn His Thr Ser Pro Pro 340 345 350 Gly Ser Thr Ser Pro Glu Asp Cys Val Cys Arg Glu Gly Tyr Arg Ala 355 360 365 Ser Gly Gln Thr Cys Glu Leu Val His Cys Pro Ala Leu Lys Pro Pro 370 375 380 Glu Asn Gly Tyr Phe Ile Gln Asn Thr Cys Asn Asn His Phe Asn Ala 385 390 395 400 Ala Cys Gly Val Arg Cys His Pro Gly Phe Asp Leu Val Gly Ser Ser 405 410 415 Ile Ile Leu Cys Leu Pro Asn Gly Leu Trp Ser Gly Ser Glu Ser Tyr 420 425 430 Cys Arg Val Arg Thr Cys Pro His Leu Arg Gln Pro Lys His Gly His 435 440 445 Ile Ser Cys Ser Thr Arg Glu Met Leu Tyr Lys Thr Thr Cys Leu Val 450 455 460 Ala Cys Asp Glu Gly Tyr Arg Leu Glu Gly Ser Asp Lys Leu Thr Cys 465 470 475 480 Gln Gly Asn Ser Gln Trp Asp Gly Pro Glu Pro Arg Cys Val Glu Arg 485 490 495 His Cys Ser Thr Phe Gln Met Pro Lys Asp Ile Ile Ile Ser Pro His 500 505 510 Asn Cys Gly Lys Gln Pro Ala Lys Phe Gly Thr Ile Cys Tyr Val Ser 515 520 525 Cys Arg Gln Gly Phe Ile Leu Ser Gly Val Lys Glu Met Leu Arg Cys 530 535 540 Thr Thr Ser Gly Lys Trp Asn Val Gly Val Gln Ala Ala Val Cys Lys 545 550 555 560 Asp Val Glu Ala Pro Gln Ile Asn Cys Pro Lys Asp Ile Glu Ala Lys 565 570 575 Thr Leu Glu Gln Gln Asp Ser Ala Asn Val Thr Trp Gln Ile Pro Thr 580 585 590 Ala Lys Asp Asn Ser Gly Glu Lys Val Ser Val His Val His Pro Ala 595 600 605 Phe Thr Pro Pro Tyr Leu Phe Pro Val Gly Asp Val Ala Ile Val Tyr 610 615 620 Thr Ala Thr Asp Leu Ser Gly Asn Gln Ala Ser Cys Ile Phe His Ile 625 630 635 640 Lys Val Ile Asp Ala Glu Pro Pro Val Ile Asp Trp Cys Arg Ser Pro 645 650 655 Pro Pro Val Gln Val Ser Glu Lys Val His Ala Ala Ser Trp Asp Glu 660 665 670 Pro Gln Phe Ser Asp Asn Ser Gly Ala Glu Leu Val Ile Thr Arg Ser 675 680 685 His Thr Gln Gly Asp Leu Phe Pro Gln Gly Glu Thr Ile Val Gln Tyr 690 695 700 Thr Ala Thr Asp Pro Ser Gly Asn Asn Arg Thr Cys Asp Ile His Ile 705 710 715 720 Val Ile Lys Gly Ser Pro Cys Glu Ile Pro Phe Thr Pro Val Asn Gly 725 730 735 Asp Phe Ile Cys Thr Pro Asp Asn Thr Gly Val Asn Cys Thr Leu Thr 740 745 750 Cys Leu Glu Gly Tyr Asp Phe Thr Glu Gly Ser Thr Asp Lys Tyr Tyr 755 760 765 Cys Ala Tyr Glu Asp Gly Val Trp Lys Pro Thr Tyr Thr Thr Glu Trp 770 775 780 Pro Asp Cys Ala Lys Lys Arg Phe Ala Asn His Gly Phe Lys Ser Phe 785 790 795 800 Glu Met Phe Tyr Lys Ala Ala Arg Cys Asp Asp Thr Asp Leu Met Lys 805 810 815 Lys Phe Ser Glu Ala Phe Glu Thr Thr Leu Gly Lys Met Val Pro Ser 820 825 830 Phe Cys Ser Asp Ala Glu Asp Ile Asp Cys Arg Leu Glu Glu Asn Leu 835 840 845 Thr Lys Lys Tyr Cys Leu Glu Tyr Asn Tyr Asp Tyr Glu Asn Gly Phe 850 855 860 Ala Ile Gly Pro Gly Gly Trp Gly Ala Ala Asn Arg Leu Asp Tyr Ser 865 870 875 880 Tyr Asp Asp Phe Leu Asp Thr Val Gln Glu Thr Ala Thr Ser Ile Gly 885 890 895 Asn Ala Lys Ser Ser Arg Ile Lys Arg Ser Ala Pro Leu Ser Asp Tyr 900 905 910 Lys Ile Lys Leu Ile Phe Asn Ile Thr Ala Ser Val Pro Leu Pro Asp 915 920 925 Glu Arg Asn Asp Thr Leu Glu Trp Glu Asn Gln Gln Arg Leu Leu Gln 930 935 940 Thr Leu Glu Thr Ile Thr Asn Lys Leu Lys Arg Thr Leu Asn Lys Asp 945 950 955 960 Pro Met Tyr Ser Phe Gln Leu Ala Ser Glu Ile Leu Ile Ala Asp Ser 965 970 975 Asn Ser Leu Glu Thr Lys Lys Ala Ser Pro Phe Cys Arg Pro Gly Ser 980 985 990 Val Leu Arg Gly Arg Met Cys Val Asn Cys Pro Leu Gly Thr Tyr Tyr 995 1000 1005 Asn Leu Glu His Phe Thr Cys Glu Ser Cys Arg Ile Gly Ser Tyr 1010 1015 1020 Gln Asp Glu Gulu Gly Gln Leu Glu Cys Lys Leu Cys Pro Ser Gly 1025 1030 1035 Met Tyr Thr Glu Tyr Ile His Ser Arg Asn Ile Ser Asp Cys Lys 1040 1045 1050 Ala Gln Cys Lys Gln Gly Thr Tyr Ser Tyr Ser Gly Leu Glu Thr 1055 1060 1065 Cys Glu Ser Cys Pro Leu Gly Thr Tyr Gln Pro Lys Phe Gly Ser 1070 1075 1080 Arg Ser Cys Leu Ser Cys Pro Glu Asn Thr Ser Thr Val Lys Arg 1085 1090 1095 Gly Ala Val Asn Ile Ser Ala Cys Gly Val Pro Cys Pro Glu Gly 1100 1105 1110 Lys Phe Ser Arg Ser Gly Leu Met Pro Cys His Pro Cys Pro Arg 1115 1120 1125 Asp Tyr Tyr Gln Pro Asn Ala Gly Lys Ala Phe Cys Leu Ala Cys 1130 1135 1140 Pro Phe Tyr Gly Thr Thr Pro Phe Ala Gly Ser Arg Ser Ile Thr 1145 1150 1155 Glu Cys Ser Ser Phe Ser Ser Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Glu Glu Ser 1160 1165 1170 Val Val Pro Pro Ala Ser Leu Gly His Ile Lys Lys Arg His Glu 1175 1180 1185 Ile Ser Ser Gln Val Phe His Glu Cys Phe Phe Asn Pro Cys His 1190 1195 1200 Asn Ser Gly Thr Cys Gln Gln Leu Gly Arg Gly Tyr Val Cys Leu 1205 1210 1215 Cys Pro Leu Gly Tyr Thr Gly Leu Lys Cys Glu Thr Asp Ile Asp 1220 1225 1230 Glu Cys Ser Pro Leu Pro Cys Leu Asn Asn Gly Val Cys Lys Asp 1235 1240 1245 Leu Val Gly Glu Phe Ile Cys Glu Cys Pro Ser Gly Tyr Thr Gly 1250 1255 1260 Gln Arg Cys Glu Glu Asn Ile Asn Glu Cys Ser Ser Ser Pro Cys 1265 1270 1275 Leu Asn Lys Gly Ile Cys Val Asp Gly Val Ala Gly Tyr Arg Cys 1280 1285 1290 Thr Cys Val Lys Gly Phe Val Gly Leu His Cys Glu Thr Glu Val 1295 1300 1305 Asn Glu Cys Gln Ser Asn Pro Cys Leu Asn Asn Ala Val Cys Glu 1310 1315 1320 Asp Gln Val Gly Gly Phe Leu Cys Lys Cys Pro Pro Gly Phe Leu 1325 1330 1335 Gly Thr Arg Cys Gly Lys Asn Val Asp Glu Cys Leu Ser Gln Pro 1340 1345 1350 Cys Lys Asn Gly Ala Thr Cys Lys Asp Gly Ala Asn Ser Phe Arg 1355 1360 1365 Cys Leu Cys Ala Ala Gly Phe Thr Gly Ser His Cys Glu Leu Asn 1370 1375 1380 Ile Asn Glu Cys Gln Ser Asn Pro Cys Arg Asn Gln Ala Thr Cys 1385 1390 1395 Val Asp Glu Leu Asn Ser Tyr Ser Cys Lys Cys Gln Pro Gly Phe 1400 1405 1410 Ser Gly Lys Arg Cys Glu Thr Glu Gln Ser Thr Gly Phe Asn Leu 1415 1420 1425 Asp Phe Glu Val Ser Gly Ile Tyr Gly Tyr Val Met Leu Asp Gly 1430 1435 1440 Met Leu Pro Ser Leu His Ala Leu Thr Cys Thr Phe Trp Met Lys 1445 1450 1455 Ser Ser Asp Asp Met Asn Tyr Gly Thr Pro Ile Ser Tyr Ala Val 1460 1465 1470 Asp Asn Gly Ser Asp Asn Thr Leu Leu Leu Thr Asp Tyr Asn Gly 1475 1480 1485 Trp Val Leu Tyr Val Asn Gly Arg Glu Lys Ile Thr Asn Cys Pro 1490 1495 1500 Ser Val Asn Asp Gly Arg Trp His His Ile Ala Ile Thr Trp Thr 1505 1510 1515 Ser Ala Asn Gly Ile Trp Lys Val Tyr Ile Asp Gly Lys Leu Ser 1520 1525 1530 Asp Gly Gly Ala Gly Leu Ser Val Gly Leu Pro Ile Pro Gly Gly 1535 1540 1545 Gly Ala Leu Val Leu Gly Gln Glu Gln Asp Lys Lys Gly Glu Gly 1550 1555 1560 Phe Ser Pro Ala Glu Ser Phe Val Gly Ser Ile Ser Gln Leu Asn 1565 1570 1575 Leu Trp Asp Tyr Val Leu Ser Pro Gln Gln Val Lys Ser Leu Ala 1580 1585 1590 Thr Ser Cys Pro Glu Glu Leu Ser Lys Gly Asn Val Leu Ala Trp 1595 1600 1605 Pro Asp Phe Leu Ser Gly Ile Val Gly Lys Val Lys Ile Asp Ser 1610 1615 1620 Lys Ser Ile Phe Cys Ser Asp Cys Pro Arg Leu Gly Gly Ser Val 1625 1630 1635 Pro His Leu Arg Thr Ala Ser Glu Asp Leu Lys Pro Gly Ser Lys 1640 1645 1650 Val Asn Leu Phe Cys Asp Pro Gly Phe Gln Leu Val Gly Asn Pro 1655 1660 1665 Val Gln Tyr Cys Leu Asn Gln Gly Gln Trp Thr Gln Pro Leu Pro 1670 1675 1680 His Cys Glu Arg Ile Ser Cys Gly Val Pro Pro Pro Leu Glu Asn 1685 1690 1695 Gly Phe His Ser Ala Asp Asp Phe Tyr Ala Gly Ser Thr Val Thr 1700 1705 1710 Tyr Gln Cys Asn Asn Gly Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Asp Ser Arg Met 1715 1720 1725 Phe Cys Thr Asp Asn Gly Ser Trp Asn Gly Val Ser Pro Ser Cys 1730 1735 1740 Leu Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Ala Val Gly Ser Asp Cys Ser Glu His 1745 1750 1755 Ala Ser Cys Leu Asn Val Asp Gly Ser Tyr Ile Cys Ser Cys Val 1760 1765 1770 Pro Pro Tyr Thr Gly Asp Gly Lys Asn Cys Ala Glu Pro Ile Lys 1775 1780 1785 Cys Lys Ala Pro Gly Asn Pro Glu Asn Gly His Ser Ser Gly Glu 1790 1795 1800 Ile Tyr Thr Val Gly Ala Glu Val Thr Phe Ser Cys Gln Glu Gly 1805 1810 1815 Tyr Gln Leu Met Gly Val Thr Lys Ile Thr Cys Leu Glu Ser Gly 1820 1825 1830 Glu Trp Asn His Leu Ile Pro Tyr Cys Lys Ala Val Ser Cys Gly 1835 1840 1845 Lys Pro Ala Ile Pro Glu Asn Gly Cys Ile Glu Glu Leu Ala Phe 1850 1855 1860 Thr Phe Gly Ser Lys Val Thr Tyr Arg Cys Asn Lys Gly Tyr Thr 1865 1870 1875 Leu Ala Gly Asp Lys Glu Ser Ser Cys Leu Ala Asn Ser Ser Trp 1880 1885 1890 Ser His Ser Pro Pro Val Cys Glu Pro Val Lys Cys Ser Ser Pro 1895 1900 1905 Glu Asn Ile Asn Asn Gly Lys Tyr Ile Leu Ser Gly Leu Thr Tyr 1910 1915 1920 Leu Ser Thr Ala Ser Tyr Ser Cys Asp Thr Gly Tyr Ser Leu Gln 1925 1930 1935 Gly Pro Ser Ile Ile Glu Cys Thr Ala Ser Gly Ile Trp Asp Arg 1940 1945 1950 Ala Pro Pro Ala Cys His Leu Val Phe Cys Gly Glu Pro Pro Ala 1955 1960 1965 Ile Lys Asp Ala Val Ile Thr Gly Asn Asn Phe Thr Phe Arg Asn 1970 1975 1980 Thr Val Thr Tyr Thr Cys Lys Glu Gly Tyr Thr Leu Ala Gly Leu 1985 1990 1995 Asp Thr Ile Glu Cys Leu Ala Asp Gly Lys Trp Ser Arg Ser Asp 2000 2005 2010 Gln Gln Cys Leu Ala Val Ser Cys Asp Glu Pro Pro Ile Val Asp 2015 2020 2025 His Ala Ser Pro Glu Thr Ala His Arg Leu Phe Gly Asp Ile Ala 2030 2035 2040 Phe Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Asp Gly Tyr Ser Leu Ala Asp Asn Ser Gln 2045 2050 2055 Leu Leu Cys Asn Ala Gln Gly Lys Trp Val Pro Pro Glu Gly Gln 2060 2065 2070 Asp Met Pro Arg Cys Ile Ala His Phe Cys Glu Lys Pro Pro Ser 2075 2080 2085 Val Ser Tyr Ser Ile Leu Glu Ser Val Ser Lys Ala Lys Phe Ala 2090 2095 2100 Ala Gly Ser Val Val Ser Phe Lys Cys Met Glu Gly Phe Val Leu 2105 2110 2115 Asn Thr Ser Ala Lys Ile Glu Cys Met Arg Gly Gly Gln Trp Asn 2120 2125 2130 Pro Ser Pro Met Ser Ile Gln Cys Ile Pro Val Arg Cys Gly Glu 2135 2140 2145 Pro Pro Ser Ile Met Asn Gly Tyr Ala Ser Gly Ser Asn Tyr Ser 2150 2155 2160 Phe Gly Ala Met Val Ala Tyr Ser Cys Asn Lys Gly Phe Tyr Ile 2165 2170 2175 Lys Gly Glu Lys Lys Ser Thr Cys Glu Ala Thr Gly Gln Trp Ser 2180 2185 2190 Ser Pro Ile Pro Thr Cys His Pro Val Ser Cys Gly Glu Pro Pro 2195 2200 2205 Lys Val Glu Asn Gly Phe Leu Glu His Thr Thr Gly Arg Ile Phe 2210 2215 2220 Glu Ser Glu Val Arg Tyr Gln Cys Asn Pro Gly Tyr Lys Ser Val 2225 2230 2235 Gly Ser Pro Val Phe Val Cys Gln Ala Asn Arg His Trp His Ser 2240 2245 2250 Glu Ser Pro Leu Met Cys Val Pro Leu Asp Cys Gly Lys Pro Pro 2255 2260 2265 Pro Ile Gln Asn Gly Phe Met Lys Gly Glu Asn Phe Glu Val Gly 2270 2275 2280 Ser Lys Val Gln Phe Phe Cys Asn Glu Gly Tyr Glu Leu Val Gly 2285 2290 2295 Asp Ser Ser Trp Thr Cys Gln Lys Ser Gly Lys Trp Asn Lys Lys 2300 2305 2310 Ser Asn Pro Lys Cys Met Pro Ala Lys Cys Pro Glu Pro Pro Leu 2315 2320 2325 Leu Glu Asn Gln Leu Val Leu Lys Glu Leu Thr Thr Glu Val Gly 2330 2335 2340 Val Val Thr Phe Ser Cys Lys Glu Gly His Val Leu Gln Gly Pro 2345 2350 2355 Ser Val Leu Lys Cys Leu Pro Ser Gln Gln Trp Asn Asp Ser Phe 2360 2365 2370 Pro Val Cys Lys Ile Val Leu Cys Thr Pro Pro Pro Leu Ile Ser 2375 2380 2385 Phe Gly Val Pro Ile Pro Ser Ser Ala Leu His Phe Gly Ser Thr 2390 2395 2400 Val Lys Tyr Ser Cys Val Gly Gly Phe Phe Leu Arg Gly Asn Ser 2405 2410 2415 Thr Thr Leu Cys Gln Pro Asp Gly Thr Trp Ser Ser Pro Leu Pro 2420 2425 2430 Glu Cys Val Pro Val Glu Cys Pro Gln Pro Glu Glu Ile Pro Asn 2435 2440 2445 Gly Ile Ile Asp Val Gln Gly Leu Ala Tyr Leu Ser Thr Ala Leu 2450 2455 2460 Tyr Thr Cys Lys Pro Gly Phe Glu Leu Val Gly Asn Thr Thr Thr 2465 2470 2475 Leu Cys Gly Glu Asn Gly His Trp Leu Gly Gly Lys Pro Thr Cys 2480 2485 2490 Lys Ala Ile Glu Cys Leu Lys Pro Lys Glu Ile Leu Asn Gly Lys 2495 2500 2505 Phe Ser Tyr Thr Asp Leu His Tyr Gly Gln Thr Val Thr Tyr Ser 2510 2515 2520 Cys Asn Arg Gly Phe Arg Leu Glu Gly Pro Ser Ala Leu Thr Cys 2525 2530 2535 Leu Glu Thr Gly Asp Trp Asp Val Asp Ala Pro Ser Cys Asn Ala 2540 2545 2550 Ile His Cys Asp Ser Pro Gln Pro Ile Glu Asn Gly Phe Val Glu 2555 2560 2565 Gly Ala Asp Tyr Ser Tyr Gly Ala Ile Ile Ile Tyr Ser Cys Phe 2570 2575 2580 Pro Gly Phe Gln Val Ala Gly His Ala Met Gln Thr Cys Glu Glu 2585 2590 2595 Ser Gly Trp Ser Ser Ser Ile Pro Thr Cys Met Pro Ile Asp Cys 2600 2605 2610 Gly Leu Pro Pro His Ile Asp Phe Gly Asp Cys Thr Lys Leu Lys 2615 2620 2625 Asp Asp Gln Gly Tyr Phe Glu Gln Glu Asp Asp Met Met Glu Val 2630 2635 2640 Pro Tyr Val Thr Pro His Pro Pro Tyr His Leu Gly Ala Val Ala 2645 2650 2655 Lys Thr Trp Glu Asn Thr Lys Glu Ser Pro Ala Thr His Ser Ser 2660 2665 2670 Asn Phe Leu Tyr Gly Thr Met Val Ser Tyr Thr Cys Asn Pro Gly 2675 2680 2685 Tyr Glu Leu Leu Gly Asn Pro Val Leu Ile Cys Gln Glu Asp Gly 2690 2695 2700 Thr Trp Asn Gly Ser Ala Pro Ser Cys Ile Ser Ile Glu Cys Asp 2705 2710 2715 Leu Pro Thr Ala Pro Glu Asn Gly Phe Leu Arg Phe Thr Glu Thr 2720 2725 2730 Ser Met Gly Ser Ala Val Gln Tyr Ser Cys Lys Pro Gly His Ile 2735 2740 2745 Leu Val Gly Ser Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys Leu Glu Asn Arg Lys Trp 2750 2755 2760 Ser Gly Ala Ser Pro Arg Cys Glu Ala Ile Ser Cys Lys Lys Pro 2765 2770 2775 Asn Pro Val Met Asn Gly Ser Ile Lys Gly Ser Asn Tyr Thr Tyr 2780 2785 2790 Leu Ser Thr Leu Tyr Tyr Glu Cys Asp Pro Gly Tyr Val Leu Asn 2795 2800 2805 Gly Thr Glu Arg Arg Thr Cys Gln Asp Asp Lys Asn Trp Asp Glu 2810 2815 2820 Asp Glu Pro Ile Cys Ile Pro Val Asp Cys Ser Ser Pro Pro Val 2825 2830 2835 Ser Ala Asn Gly Gln Val Arg Gly Asp Glu Tyr Thr Phe Gln Lys 2840 2845 2850 Glu Ile Glu Tyr Thr Cys Asn Glu Gly Phe Leu Leu Glu Gly Ala 2855 2860 2865 Arg Ser Arg Val Cys Leu Ala Asn Gly Ser Trp Ser Gly Ala Thr 2870 2875 2880 Pro Asp Cys Val Pro Val Arg Cys Ala Thr Pro Pro Gln Leu Ala 2885 2890 2895 Asn Gly Val Thr Glu Gly Leu Asp Tyr Gly Phe Met Lys Glu Val 2900 2905 2910 Thr Phe His Cys His Glu Gly Tyr Ile Leu His Gly Ala Pro Lys 2915 2920 2925 Leu Thr Cys Gln Ser Asp Gly Asn Trp Asp Ala Glu Ile Pro Leu 2930 2935 2940 Cys Lys Pro Val Asn Cys Gly Pro Pro Glu Asp Leu Ala His Gly 2945 2950 2955 Phe Pro Asn Gly Phe Ser Phe Ile His Gly Gly His Ile Gln Tyr 2960 2965 2970 Gln Cys Phe Pro Gly Tyr Lys Leu His Gly Asn Ser Ser Arg Arg 2975 2980 2985 Cys Leu Ser Asn Gly Ser Trp Ser Gly Ser Ser Pro Ser Cys Leu 2990 2995 3000 Pro Cys Arg Cys Ser Thr Pro Val Ile Glu Tyr Gly Thr Val Asn 3005 3010 3015 Gly Thr Asp Phe Asp Cys Gly Lys Ala Ala Arg Ile Gln Cys Phe 3020 3025 3030 Lys Gly Phe Lys Leu Leu Gly Leu Ser Glu Ile Thr Cys Glu Ala 3035 3040 3045 Asp Gly Gln Trp Ser Ser Gly Phe Pro His Cys Glu His Thr Ser 3050 3055 3060 Cys Gly Ser Leu Pro Met Ile Pro Asn Ala Phe Ile Ser Glu Thr 3065 3070 3075 Ser Ser Trp Lys Glu Asn Val Ile Thr Tyr Ser Cys Arg Ser Gly 3080 3085 3090 Tyr Val Ile Gln Gly Ser Ser Asp Leu Ile Cys Thr Glu Lys Gly 3095 3100 3105 Val Trp Ser Gln Pro Tyr Pro Val Cys Glu Pro Leu Ser Cys Gly 3110 3115 3120 Ser Pro Pro Ser Val Ala Asn Ala Val Ala Thr Gly Glu Ala His 3125 3130 3135 Thr Tyr Glu Ser Glu Val Lys Leu Arg Cys Leu Glu Gly Tyr Thr 3140 3145 3150 Met Asp Thr Asp Thr Asp Thr Phe Thr Cys Gln Lys Asp Gly Arg 3155 3160 3165 Trp Phe Pro Glu Arg Ile Ser Cys Ser Pro Lys Lys Cys Pro Leu 3170 3175 3180 Pro Glu Asn Ile Thr His Ile Leu Val His Gly Asp Asp Phe Ser 3185 3190 3195 Val Asn Arg Gln Val Ser Val Ser Cys Ala Glu Gly Tyr Thr Phe 3200 3205 3210 Glu Gly Val Asn Ile Ser Val Cys Gln Leu Asp Gly Thr Trp Glu 3215 3220 3225 Pro Pro Phe Ser Asp Glu Ser Cys Ser Pro Val Ser Cys Gly Lys 3230 3235 3240 Pro Glu Ser Pro Glu His Gly Phe Val Val Gly Ser Lys Tyr Thr 3245 3250 3255 Phe Glu Ser Thr Ile Ile Tyr Gln Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr Glu Leu 3260 3265 3270 Glu Gly Asn Arg Glu Arg Val Cys Gln Glu Asn Arg Gln Trp Ser 3275 3280 3285 Gly Gly Val Ala Ile Cys Lys Glu Thr Arg Cys Glu Thr Pro Leu 3290 3295 3300 Glu Phe Leu Asn Gly Lys Ala Asp Ile Glu Asn Arg Thr Thr Gly 3305 3310 3315 Pro Asn Val Val Tyr Ser Cys Asn Arg Gly Tyr Ser Leu Glu Gly 3320 3325 3330 Pro Ser Glu Ala His Cys Thr Glu Asn Gly Thr Trp Ser His Pro 3335 3340 3345 Val Pro Leu Cys Lys Pro Asn Pro Cys Pro Val Pro Phe Val Ile 3350 3355 3360 Pro Glu Asn Ala Leu Leu Ser Glu Lys Glu Phe Tyr Val Asp Gln 3365 3370 3375 Asn Val Ser Ile Lys Cys Arg Glu Gly Phe Leu Leu Gln Gly His 3380 3385 3390 Gly Ile Ile Thr Cys Asn Pro Asp Glu Thr Trp Thr Gln Thr Ser 3395 3400 3405 Ala Lys Cys Glu Lys Ile Ser Cys Gly Pro Pro Ala His Val Glu 3410 3415 3420 Asn Ala Ile Ala Arg Gly Val His Tyr Gln Tyr Gly Asp Met Ile 3425 3430 3435 Thr Tyr Ser Cys Tyr Ser Gly Tyr Met Leu Glu Gly Phe Leu Arg 3440 3445 3450 Ser Val Cys Leu Glu Asn Gly Thr Trp Thr Ser Pro Pro Ile Cys 3455 3460 3465 Arg Ala Val Cys Arg Phe Pro Cys Gln Asn Gly Gly Ile Cys Gln 3470 3475 3480 Arg Pro Asn Ala Cys Ser Cys Pro Glu Gly Trp Met Gly Arg Leu 3485 3490 3495 Cys Glu Glu Pro Ile Cys Ile Leu Pro Cys Leu Asn Gly Gly Arg 3500 3505 3510 Cys Val Ala Pro Tyr Gln Cys Asp Cys Pro Pro Gly Trp Thr Gly 3515 3520 3525 Ser Arg Cys His Thr Ala Val Cys Gln Ser Pro Cys Leu Asn Gly 3530 3535 3540 Gly Lys Cys Val Arg Pro Asn Arg Cys His Cys Leu Ser Ser Trp 3545 3550 3555 Thr Gly His Asn Cys Ser Arg Lys Arg Arg Thr Gly Phe 3560 3565 3570 3 11230 DNA Mus musculus 3 ccccgagctg ccagaggagt ctggatcgtg tccccagtgt cacatgcaag gacgctgagg 60 ttcgcggttg ctaccccggg tcccctccgc ttagttcggg aaccttggcg cctctctgcg 120 cgctcgggga ctgtcgcctt gcactccccg gggccaccgc tcggtcccca gcgggatgtg 180 gtcgcgcctg gccttttgtt gctgggctct ggcactggtg tcgggctgga ccaacttcca 240 gcccgtggcc ccttcgctca acttcagctt ccgcctgttc cccgaggcct ctccgggggc 300 tctgggcaga ctggcggtac ctcccgcgtc cagtgaggag gaggcagcag ggagcaaagt 360 ggagcgcctg ggccgcgcgt tccggagccg cgtgcggcga ctgcgggagc tcagcggcag 420 cctggagctc gtcttcctgg tggacgagtc gtccagcgtg ggccaaacca acttcctcaa 480 cgagctcaag ttcgtgcgca agctgctgtc cgacttcccc gtggtgtcca cggccacgcg 540 tgtggccatc gtcaccttct catccaagaa caacgtggtg gcgcgcgtgg attacatctc 600 caccagccgc gcgcaccaac acaagtgcgc gctgctcagc cgcgagatcc cggccatcac 660 ctaccgcggt ggtggcacct ataccaaggg cgccttccag caagccgcgc aaatccttcg 720 tcactctaga gaaaactcca ccaaagtcat atttctcatc accgacggct attccaatgg 780 cggagacccc agacctattg cagcatcgct tcgggatttc ggagtggaga tcttcacgtt 840 cgggatttgg caggggaata tccgggaact gaatgacatg gcttccaccc cgaaggaaga 900 acattgttac ctgctccaca gttttgaaga atttgaggct ttagctcgca gggcgttgca 960 tgaagatcta ccttctggga gttttatcca agaggatatg gcccactgct cttatctctg 1020 tgaggctggg aaagactgct gtgacagaat ggccagctgc aaatgtggga cacacacggg 1080 tcaatttgaa tgcatctgtg agaagggcta ttacgggaaa ggtctgcagc atgagtgcac 1140 agcttgccca tcagggacat ataagccgga agcttctcca ggaggaatca gcacctgcat 1200 cccatgtcct gacgtaagcc acacctcccc acctggaagc acttcccctg aagactgcgt 1260 gtgccgagag ggataccaga gatctggcca gacctgtgag gttgtccact gtcctgccct 1320 gaagcctcct gaaaatggtt tttttataca aaacacttgc aaaaactact tcaatgccgc 1380 ctgtggggtc cgatgtcgcc cgggctttga ccttgtggga agcagcatcc atttgtgtca 1440 acccaatggt ttgtggtctg ggacagaaag cttctgcaga gtgagaacgt gcccccacct 1500 ccgacagccc aaacacggcc acatcagctg ctccactgcg gaaatgtcct acaacaccct 1560 gtgtttggtt acctgcaatg aaggatacag attagaaggc agcactaggc ttacctgtca 1620 aggaaatgcc cagtgggatg gcccagagcc ccggtgtgta gaacgccatt gtgccacctt 1680 ccagaagccc aaaggcgtca tcatttctcc acccagctgc ggcaagcagc ccgccaggcc 1740 tgggatgacc tgtcagctaa gctgccgcca gggatacatt ttatccgggg tcagagaagt 1800 gagatgtgcc acatctggga agtggagtgc caaagttcag acagctgtgt gcaaagatgt 1860 ggaggctcca caaatcagct gtccaaatga cattgaggca aagactgggg agcagcagga 1920 ctctgctaat gccacctggc aagtcccaac agctaaagac aactctggtg aaaaggtgtc 1980 agtccacgtc cacccagcct ttaccccacc ttacctcttc ccaattggag acgtggccat 2040 cacctacacg gcaaccgact catccggtaa ccaagccagc tgcactttct acattaaggt 2100 cattgatgtg gaaccgcctg tcatagattg gtgccgatct ccacctccaa tccaggtcgt 2160 agagaaggag caccctgcaa gctgggatga gcctcagttc tcagacaact ccggggctga 2220 attggtcatt accagcagtc acacacaagg cgacatgttt cctcatgggg aaacggtggt 2280 gtggtacaca gccactgacc cctcaggcaa caacaggacc tgtgacatcc acattgtcat 2340 aaaaggttct ccctgtgagg tccccttcac ccctgtaaac ggggacttta tctgtgccca 2400 ggatagtgct ggagttaact gtagcctgag ctgcaaggag ggctatgatt tcacagaagg 2460 gtcacctgag aagtactact gtgcttttga agatggtatc tggagaccac catactctac 2520 agaatggcca gactgtgcta taaaacgttt tgcaaaccat ggtttcaagt cctttgaaat 2580 gctatacaaa accactcgct gtgatgacat ggatctgttt aagaagtttt ctgcagcatt 2640 tgagactacc ctggggaaca tggtcccgtc cttttgtaac gatgctgatg acattgactg 2700 cagactggag gacctgacca aaaaatactg catcgagtat aattacaact atgaaaatgg 2760 ctttgcaatt ggaccaggag gctggggtgc aggcaacagg ctggattatt cctacgatca 2820 cttcctggat gttgtacagg aaacacccac cgatgtgggc aaggccagat cgtcacggat 2880 taaaagaact gtcccattgt ctgaccccaa aattcagcta atttttaaca tcacagctag 2940 cgtgccactc ccagaggaaa gaaacgatac ccttgaattg gagaatcagc agcgactcat 3000 taagacattg gaaacaatca ccaatcgcct gaaaagcacc ttgaataaag agcccatgta 3060 ttctttccag ctcgcctcgg aaacagtggt ggctgacagc aattccctcg aaacagaaaa 3120 ggcttttctc ttctgcagac caggctctgt gctgaggggg cgcatgtgtg tcaactgccc 3180 cctgggaacc tcttactctc tggagcattc cacctgtgaa agctgcctca tgggatccta 3240 ccaagatgaa gaagggcagc tggaatgcaa gctctgtccc ccaaggactc acgcggaata 3300 cctccattca agaagcgtct ctgaatgcaa agctcagtgt aagcaaggca cctactcttc 3360 cagtgggctg gagacctgcg aatcgtgtcc gctgggtact tatcaaccgg aatttggatc 3420 ccggagctgc ctcctatgcc cagaaaccac cacaacggtg aaaagaggag ccgtggacat 3480 ctctgcttgt ggagtgccct gcccagtagg agaattctcc cgttctgggc taacaccctg 3540 ctacccttgc cctcgagact attaccaacc caatgcaggg aagtccttct gcctcgcttg 3600 tcccttttat ggaactacaa ccatcactgg cgccacgtcc atcacagact gctcaagttt 3660 tagctctact ttctcagcag cagaagaaag catagtgccc ctcgtggccc ctggacattc 3720 ccagaacaag tacgaagtca gcagtcaggt ctttcacgaa tgcttcttaa acccctgcca 3780 caacagtgga acctgccaac agcttgggcg tggttatgtc tgtctctgcc cacctggata 3840 cacaggctta aagtgtgaaa cagatattga tgaatgcagc tctctgcctt gcctcaatgg 3900 tggaatttgt agagaccaag ttgggggatt cacgtgcgaa tgttcattgg gctattcagg 3960 tcaaatatgt gaagaaaata taaatgagtg tatctccagc ccttgcttaa ataaaggaac 4020 ctgcactgac ggcttggcaa gctaccgctg tacctgtgtg aaaggataca tgggtgtgca 4080 ctgtgaaaca gacgtcaatg aatgccagtc aagcccctgc ttaaacaacg cagtttgtaa 4140 agaccaagtt ggggggttct cgtgcaaatg cccacccgga tttttgggta ctcggtgtga 4200 aaaaaatgtg gatgagtgtc tcagtcagcc atgccaaaat ggagccactt gtaaggatgg 4260 tgccaacagc ttcaggtgtc aatgtccagc aggcttcaca gggacacact gtgaactgaa 4320 catcaacgag tgtcagtcca acccgtgtag gaaccaggcc acctgtgtgg atgaactaaa 4380 ctcatacagt tgtaaatgtc agccaggatt ttcaggccac aggtgtgaga cagaacagcc 4440 ttccggtttt aacctggatt ttgaagtttc tggcatctac gggtacgtcc tgctagatgg 4500 agtgctgcca accctccatg ccgtaacctg cgcattctgg atgaaatcct ctgatgtcat 4560 caactacggg acgcccatct cctatgcact tgaggatgac aaagacaaca ccttcctcct 4620 gactgattac aacggctggg ttctttatgt gaatggaaag gaaaagatca ccaactgccc 4680 ctccgtaaat gatggcattt ggcatcatat tgcaatcaca tggacaagta ttggtggagc 4740 ctggagggtc tatatagatg gggaattatc tgacggtggt actggcctct ccattggcaa 4800 agccatacct ggtggcggtg cattagttct tgggcaagag caagacaaaa aaggagaggg 4860 gttcaacccg gctgagtctt ttgtgggctc cataagccag ctcaacctct gggactatgt 4920 cctgtctcca cagcaggtga agttgctggc cagctcctgc ccagaggaac tgagtcgggg 4980 aaacgtgtta gcatggcccg atttcctgtc gggaatcacg gggaaggtga aggttgattc 5040 cagcagcatg ttctgctctg attgtccgtc tttagaagga tccgtgcctc acctgagacc 5100 tgcatcagga aatcgaaagc caggctccaa agtcagtctg ttctgtgatc cgggcttcca 5160 gatggttggg aatcctgtgc agtattgtct gaaccaaggg cagtggacac aaccactccc 5220 ccactgtgaa cgcattcgct gtgggctgcc tcccgccttg gagaatggct tctactcagc 5280 cgaggacttc catgcgggca gcacggtgac ctatcagtgc accagtggct actacctgct 5340 gggtgattcc cgaatgttct gcrcagacaa cgggagctgg aacggcattt caccatcctg 5400 tctcgatgtc gatgagtgtg cagtcggctc ggactgtagt gagcacgcct cctgcctgaa 5460 caccaacgga tcctacgtat gctcctgtaa cccaccatac acgggagatg ggaaaaactg 5520 tgcagaacct gtaaaatgta aggctccaga aaatccagaa aatggccgct cttctggcga 5580 gatttacacc gtgggtactg cagtcacatt ttcctgtgac gaagggcacg agctggtggg 5640 agtgagcacc atcacgtgtt tggagactgg cgagtgggat cgcctcaggc cgtcctgtga 5700 agccatttcc tgtggtgtcc cacctgttcc tgaaaatggt ggtgttgacg ggtcggcatt 5760 cacatatggc agtaaggtgg tgtacaggtg tgataaagga tatactttgt ctggggatga 5820 agagtcagca tgccttgcta gtggttcctg gagtcattcc tctcctgtgt gcgggctagt 5880 gaagtgttcc cagcctgagg acataaataa cggcaaatac atcttaagtg ggctcaccta 5940 cctttctatt gcatcgtact cctgtgagaa cggatacagt ttacagggcc catccctcct 6000 tgaatgcaca gcttccggca gctgggacag agcgccacct agctgtcaac ttgtctcctg 6060 cggagagcct ccaatcgtca aagatgctgt catcactggg agcaacttca cttttgggaa 6120 cacagttgct tacacatgca aagagggcta cacccttgct gggcctgaca ccatcatatg 6180 ccaggccaac ggcaaatgga attcaagtaa ccaccagtgc ctggctgtct cctgtgacga 6240 gccccccaat gtggaccacg cctctccaga gactgctcac aggctctttg gagacaccgc 6300 gttttactac tgtgcggatg gctacagcct ggctgataat tcccagctca tctgcaatgc 6360 ccaggggaac tgggttcccc ccgcgggcca ggctgtgccg cgctgcatag ctcacttctg 6420 tgaaaaaccc ccatctgttt cctacagcat cttggaatct gtgagcaaag caaagtttgc 6480 agctggctcg gtagtgagct tcaagtgcat ggagggtttt gtgctgaaca cctcagcgaa 6540 gattgaatgc ctgagaggtg gagagtggag cccttctccc ctctcggtcc agtgcatccc 6600 ggtgcgatgc ggagagcctc caagcatcgc aaatggctac ccgagtggga caaactacag 6660 ttttggggcc gtggtggcct acagctgcca caagggattc tatatcaagg gggagaagaa 6720 gagcacgtgt gaggccacag gacagtggag taaacccacg cccacctgcc atcctgtgtc 6780 ctgtaacgag ccacctaagg ttgagaacgg cttcctggag cacaccactg gcaggacctt 6840 tgagagcgaa gcaaggttcc agtgcaaccc aggctataag gcagccggaa gtcctgtgtt 6900 tgtttgccaa gccaatcgcc actggcacag cgacgcccct ctgtcctgca cccctctcaa 6960 ctgtgggaaa ccccctccca ttcagaatgg ctttttgaaa ggagaaagct ttgaagtagg 7020 gtccaaggtt cagtttgtct gtaatgaggg atatgagctc gttggtgata attcttggac 7080 ttgccagaaa tctggcaaat ggagtaagaa gccaagcccg aagtgtgtcc ccaccaagtg 7140 tgcagagcct cctctcttag aaaaccagct cgtattgaag gaattagctt ccgaggtagg 7200 agtgatgacc atttcctgta aagaggggca tgccttgcaa ggcccctctg tcctgaagtg 7260 cttgccatcc gggcaatgga atggttcctt tcctatttgt aagatggtcc tttgtccctc 7320 gcctcccttg attcccttcg gcgtccctgc gtcttccggt gctcttcatt ttggcagtac 7380 tgtcaagtat ctgtgtgtcg acgggttttt cttaagaggc agtccaacca tcctctgcca 7440 ggctgatagc acctggagtt ctccattgcc cgaatgcgtt ccggtagaat gtccccaacc 7500 tgaggagatc ctcaacggta tcatccacgt acaagggctt gcctatctca gcaccacgct 7560 ctacacctgc aagccaggct ttgagttagt gggcaatgct accaccctct gtggggaaaa 7620 tggccagtgg ctcggaggaa aaccaatgtg caaacccatt gaatgcccag agcccaagga 7680 gattttaaat ggccaattct cttccgtgag ctttcagtat ggacaaacca tcacatactt 7740 ttgtgaccgg ggcttccggc tcgaaggtcc caaatccctg acctgtttag agacaggtga 7800 ctgggatatg gatcccccct cttgtgatgc catccactgc agtgacccac agcccattga 7860 aaatggtttc gtagaaggtg cggattacag atacggtgcc atgatcatct atagctgctt 7920 ccctgggttt caggtgcttg gtcatgccat gcagacctgt gaagagtcgg gatggtcaag 7980 ctccagccca acctgtgtac ccatagactg cggtctccct cctcacatag actttggtga 8040 ctgtactaaa gtcagagatg gccagggaca ttttgatcaa gaagatgaca tgatggaagt 8100 cccatatctg gctcaccctc aacatttgga agcaacagct aaggccttgg aaaatacaaa 8160 ggagtcgcct gcctcacatg catcccactt cctctatggc acgatggttt cctacagctg 8220 cgagcctggt tatgaactgc tgggaatccc tgtgctgatc tgccaggaag atggtacgtg 8280 gaatggtacc gcaccctctt gcatttccat tgaatgtgat ttgcctgttg ctcccgaaaa 8340 tggcttttta catttcacac agacgactat gggcagtgct gcacaatata gctgcaagcc 8400 ggggcacatt ctagaaggct cccacttaag actctgtctg cagaataagc agtggagtgg 8460 cactgttcca cgctgtgaag ccatctcatg cagtaagcca aacccactct ggaatggatc 8520 catcaaagga gatgactact cctacctggg tgtgttatac tacgagtgtg actctggcta 8580 tattctcaat ggctctaaga agaggacatg ccaagaaaat agagattggg atgggcatga 8640 gcccatgtgt attcctgtag actgtggctc acccccagtc cccaccaatg gccgagtgaa 8700 gggagaagaa tacacattcc aaaaggagat tacatactct tgccgtgaag ggttcatact 8760 ggaaggagcc aggagtcgta tctgtcttac caatggaagt tggagtggtg ccactcccag 8820 ctgcatgcct gttagatgtc ctgccccacc acaggtgcca aatggggtgg cagatggcct 8880 agactatggg ttcaagaagg aagtagcgtt ccactgtcta gagggctatg tgctgcaggg 8940 ggctccaaga ctcacctgtc agtccaatgg gacttgggat gcagaagtcc ctgtctgtaa 9000 accagctacc tgtggtcctc ctgccgacct tccccagggc ttccctaatg gcttttcttt 9060 ttatcatggg ggccacatac agtatcagtg ttttactggt tataagcttc atggaaaccc 9120 atcaagaaga tgccttccca atggttcctg gagcggcagc tcgccatcct gcctaccttg 9180 caggtgttcc acacccatca ttcaacaggg aaccatcaac gcaactgatt tgggatgtgg 9240 aaagacggtc cagattgagt gcttcaaagg cttcaagctg cttggacttt ctgaaatcac 9300 ctgtgatgcc aatggccaat ggtctgacgt cccactgtgt gagcacgctc agtgcgggcc 9360 tctcccaacc atacccaacg caattgtcct tgagggcagc ctttcggagg acaatgtggt 9420 aacttacagc tgcagacctg gctacaccat gcaaggtagt tcagatctga tttgtacgga 9480 aaaagcgata tggagccagc cttacccaac gtgtgaaccc ctgtcctgtg gacccccacc 9540 aactgtagcc aatgcagtgg caacaggaga ggctcatacc tatgaaagca aagtgaaact 9600 caggtgtctg gaagggtatg tgatggattc ggatacagat acattcacct gccagcaaga 9660 tggccattgg gtccctgaaa gaatcacctg cagtcctaaa aaatgccctg tgccatccaa 9720 catgacacgc atacgttttc acggagatga cttccaggtg aacagacaag tttctgtgtc 9780 atgtgcagaa gggtttaccc acgaaggagt gaactggtca acatgccagc ccgacggtac 9840 atgggagcca ccattttctg atgaatcctg tatcccagtt gtttgtgggc atcctgaaag 9900 cccagcgcat ggctccgtgg ttggcaataa gcacagcttt ggaagcacca ttgtttacca 9960 gtgtgaccct ggctacaaat tagaggggaa cagggaacga atctgccagg agaacagaca 10020 gtggagtgga gaggtggcag tgtgcagaga gaacagatgt gagactccag ctgagtttcc 10080 caatgggaag gctgtcttgg aaaacaccac atctggaccc agccttctgt tttcctgtca 10140 cagaggctac accctggaag ggtcccccga ggcacactgc actgcaaatg gaacctggaa 10200 tcacctgact cccctctgca aaccaaatcc atgccctgtc ccttttgtga ttcctgagaa 10260 cgccgtcctt tctgaaaaag agttttatgt cgaccagaat gtatctatca agtgcaggga 10320 aggcttcctg ctcaaaggca atggtgtcat cacgtgcagc cctgacgaga catggacgca 10380 caccaatgcc agatgtgaaa aaatctcctg tggtcctcca agtcacgtag agaatgcaat 10440 tgctcgagga gtgtattacc agtatgggga catgatcacc tactcctgtt acagtggcta 10500 catgctagaa ggttccctcc ggagtgtttg cctagaaaat ggaacatgga caccatctcc 10560 tgtttgcaga gctgtctgtc ggttcccatg tcagaatgga ggtgtctgtc aacgtccaaa 10620 tgcttgctca tgcccagacg gctggatggg acgtctctgt gaagagccaa tatgcatact 10680 cccctgtttg aatggtgggc gctgtgtggc cccttatcag tgtgactgcc ccacaggctg 10740 gactgggtcc cgctgtcata cagctacttg tcagtccccc tgcttaaatg gcgggaaatg 10800 cataagacca aaccgatgcc attgtctctc agcctggaca ggacatgatt gttccaggaa 10860 aaggagagcc gggctttgat ctcatgcccc accccctctc cctaagcagc atcatctcct 10920 tccggtagct cctgggactc ccaccaagaa agaccaacgc ggtgctgggg cttgtttggt 10980 tttataagct tgaggttgac tttttaattt tgtgatctat tttgttaaat ttttttgtga 11040 cgtcctttct tacatgtgtg cgttgtttaa atatgcttgc attttctata taaaatttat 11100 attaaacgga cgcacttcat cctcaccaga tgtacatact ctgctgtctg ctgggaaagc 11160 ccctggaata catttttatt caattactta aagatgactt tccattaaaa tatattttgc 11220 tactaaaaaa 11230 4 3594 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1757)..() Xaa = any or unknown amino acid 4 Phe Gly Asn Leu Gly Ala Ser Leu Arg Ala Arg Gly Leu Ser Pro Cys 1 5 10 15 Thr Pro Arg Gly His Arg Ser Val Pro Ser Gly Met Trp Ser Arg Leu 20 25 30 Ala Phe Cys Cys Trp Ala Leu Ala Leu Val Ser Gly Trp Thr Asn Phe 35 40 45 Gln Pro Val Ala Pro Ser Leu Asn Phe Ser Phe Arg Leu Phe Pro Glu 50 55 60 Ala Ser Pro Gly Ala Leu Gly Arg Leu Ala Val Pro Pro Ala Ser Ser 65 70 75 80 Glu Glu Glu Ala Ala Gly Ser Lys Val Glu Arg Leu Gly Arg Ala Phe 85 90 95 Arg Ser Arg Val Arg Arg Leu Arg Glu Leu Ser Gly Ser Leu Glu Leu 100 105 110 Val Phe Leu Val Asp Glu Ser Ser Ser Val Gly Gln Thr Asn Phe Leu 115 120 125 Asn Glu Leu Lys Phe Val Arg Lys Leu Leu Ser Asp Phe Pro Val Val 130 135 140 Ser Thr Ala Thr Arg Val Ala Ile Val Thr Phe Ser Ser Lys Asn Asn 145 150 155 160 Val Val Ala Arg Val Asp Tyr Ile Ser Thr Ser Arg Ala His Gln His 165 170 175 Lys Cys Ala Leu Leu Ser Arg Glu Ile Pro Ala Ile Thr Tyr Arg Gly 180 185 190 Gly Gly Thr Tyr Thr Lys Gly Ala Phe Gln Gln Ala Ala Gln Ile Leu 195 200 205 Arg His Ser Arg Glu Asn Ser Thr Lys Val Ile Phe Leu Ile Thr Asp 210 215 220 Gly Tyr Ser Asn Gly Gly Asp Pro Arg Pro Ile Ala Ala Ser Leu Arg 225 230 235 240 Asp Phe Gly Val Glu Ile Phe Thr Phe Gly Ile Trp Gln Gly Asn Ile 245 250 255 Arg Glu Leu Asn Asp Met Ala Ser Thr Pro Lys Glu Glu His Cys Tyr 260 265 270 Leu Leu His Ser Phe Glu Glu Phe Glu Ala Leu Ala Arg Arg Ala Leu 275 280 285 His Glu Asp Leu Pro Ser Gly Ser Phe Ile Gln Glu Asp Met Ala His 290 295 300 Cys Ser Tyr Leu Cys Glu Ala Gly Lys Asp Cys Cys Asp Arg Met Ala 305 310 315 320 Ser Cys Lys Cys Gly Thr His Thr Gly Gln Phe Glu Cys Ile Cys Glu 325 330 335 Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Lys Gly Leu Gln His Glu Cys Thr Ala Cys Pro 340 345 350 Ser Gly Thr Tyr Lys Pro Glu Ala Ser Pro Gly Gly Ile Ser Thr Cys 355 360 365 Ile Pro Cys Pro Asp Val Ser His Thr Ser Pro Pro Gly Ser Thr Ser 370 375 380 Pro Glu Asp Cys Val Cys Arg Glu Gly Tyr Gln Arg Ser Gly Gln Thr 385 390 395 400 Cys Glu Val Val His Cys Pro Ala Leu Lys Pro Pro Glu Asn Gly Phe 405 410 415 Phe Ile Gln Asn Thr Cys Lys Asn Tyr Phe Asn Ala Ala Cys Gly Val 420 425 430 Arg Cys Arg Pro Gly Phe Asp Leu Val Gly Ser Ser Ile His Leu Cys 435 440 445 Gln Pro Asn Gly Leu Trp Ser Gly Thr Glu Ser Phe Cys Arg Val Arg 450 455 460 Thr Cys Pro His Leu Arg Gln Pro Lys His Gly His Ile Ser Cys Ser 465 470 475 480 Thr Ala Glu Met Ser Tyr Asn Thr Leu Cys Leu Val Thr Cys Asn Glu 485 490 495 Gly Tyr Arg Leu Glu Gly Ser Thr Arg Leu Thr Cys Gln Gly Asn Ala 500 505 510 Gln Trp Asp Gly Pro Glu Pro Arg Cys Val Glu Arg His Cys Ala Thr 515 520 525 Phe Gln Lys Pro Lys Gly Val Ile Ile Ser Pro Pro Ser Cys Gly Lys 530 535 540 Gln Pro Ala Arg Pro Gly Met Thr Cys Gln Leu Ser Cys Arg Gln Gly 545 550 555 560 Tyr Ile Leu Ser Gly Val Arg Glu Val Arg Cys Ala Thr Ser Gly Lys 565 570 575 Trp Ser Ala Lys Val Gln Thr Ala Val Cys Lys Asp Val Glu Ala Pro 580 585 590 Gln Ile Ser Cys Pro Asn Asp Ile Glu Ala Lys Thr Gly Glu Gln Gln 595 600 605 Asp Ser Ala Asn Ala Thr Trp Gln Val Pro Thr Ala Lys Asp Asn Ser 610 615 620 Gly Glu Lys Val Ser Val His Val His Pro Ala Phe Thr Pro Pro Tyr 625 630 635 640 Leu Phe Pro Ile Gly Asp Val Ala Ile Thr Tyr Thr Ala Thr Asp Ser 645 650 655 Ser Gly Asn Gln Ala Ser Cys Thr Phe Tyr Ile Lys Val Ile Asp Val 660 665 670 Glu Pro Pro Val Ile Asp Trp Cys Arg Ser Pro Pro Pro Ile Gln Val 675 680 685 Val Glu Lys Glu His Pro Ala Ser Trp Asp Glu Pro Gln Phe Ser Asp 690 695 700 Asn Ser Gly Ala Glu Leu Val Ile Thr Ser Ser His Thr Gln Gly Asp 705 710 715 720 Met Phe Pro His Gly Glu Thr Val Val Trp Tyr Thr Ala Thr Asp Pro 725 730 735 Ser Gly Asn Asn Arg Thr Cys Asp Ile His Ile Val Ile Lys Gly Ser 740 745 750 Pro Cys Glu Val Pro Phe Thr Pro Val Asn Gly Asp Phe Ile Cys Ala 755 760 765 Gln Asp Ser Ala Gly Val Asn Cys Ser Leu Ser Cys Lys Glu Gly Tyr 770 775 780 Asp Phe Thr Glu Gly Ser Pro Glu Lys Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Phe Glu Asp 785 790 795 800 Gly Ile Trp Arg Pro Pro Tyr Ser Thr Glu Trp Pro Asp Cys Ala Ile 805 810 815 Lys Arg Phe Ala Asn His Gly Phe Lys Ser Phe Glu Met Leu Tyr Lys 820 825 830 Thr Thr Arg Cys Asp Asp Met Asp Leu Phe Lys Lys Phe Ser Ala Ala 835 840 845 Phe Glu Thr Thr Leu Gly Asn Met Val Pro Ser Phe Cys Asn Asp Ala 850 855 860 Asp Asp Ile Asp Cys Arg Leu Glu Asp Leu Thr Lys Lys Tyr Cys Ile 865 870 875 880 Glu Tyr Asn Tyr Asn Tyr Glu Asn Gly Phe Ala Ile Gly Pro Gly Gly 885 890 895 Trp Gly Ala Gly Asn Arg Leu Asp Tyr Ser Tyr Asp His Phe Leu Asp 900 905 910 Val Val Gln Glu Thr Pro Thr Asp Val Gly Lys Ala Arg Ser Ser Arg 915 920 925 Ile Lys Arg Thr Val Pro Leu Ser Asp Pro Lys Ile Gln Leu Ile Phe 930 935 940 Asn Ile Thr Ala Ser Val Pro Leu Pro Glu Glu Arg Asn Asp Thr Leu 945 950 955 960 Glu Leu Glu Asn Gln Gln Arg Leu Ile Lys Thr Leu Glu Thr Ile Thr 965 970 975 Asn Arg Leu Lys Ser Thr Leu Asn Lys Glu Pro Met Tyr Ser Phe Gln 980 985 990 Leu Ala Ser Glu Thr Val Val Ala Asp Ser Asn Ser Leu Glu Thr Glu 995 1000 1005 Lys Ala Phe Leu Phe Cys Arg Pro Gly Ser Val Leu Arg Gly Arg 1010 1015 1020 Met Cys Val Asn Cys Pro Leu Gly Thr Ser Tyr Ser Leu Glu His 1025 1030 1035 Ser Thr Cys Glu Ser Cys Leu Met Gly Ser Tyr Gln Asp Glu Glu 1040 1045 1050 Gly Gln Leu Glu Cys Lys Leu Cys Pro Pro Arg Thr His Ala Glu 1055 1060 1065 Tyr Leu His Ser Arg Ser Val Ser Glu Cys Lys Ala Gln Cys Lys 1070 1075 1080 Gln Gly Thr Tyr Ser Ser Ser Gly Leu Glu Thr Cys Glu Ser Cys 1085 1090 1095 Pro Leu Gly Thr Tyr Gln Pro Glu Phe Gly Ser Arg Ser Cys Leu 1100 1105 1110 Leu Cys Pro Glu Thr Thr Thr Thr Val Lys Arg Gly Ala Val Asp 1115 1120 1125 Ile Ser Ala Cys Gly Val Pro Cys Pro Val Gly Glu Phe Ser Arg 1130 1135 1140 Ser Gly Leu Thr Pro Cys Tyr Pro Cys Pro Arg Asp Tyr Tyr Gln 1145 1150 1155 Pro Asn Ala Gly Lys Ser Phe Cys Leu Ala Cys Pro Phe Tyr Gly 1160 1165 1170 Thr Thr Thr Ile Thr Gly Ala Thr Ser Ile Thr Asp Cys Ser Ser 1175 1180 1185 Phe Ser Ser Thr Phe Ser Ala Ala Glu Glu Ser Ile Val Pro Leu 1190 1195 1200 Val Ala Pro Gly His Ser Gln Asn Lys Tyr Glu Val Ser Ser Gln 1205 1210 1215 Val Phe His Glu Cys Phe Leu Asn Pro Cys His Asn Ser Gly Thr 1220 1225 1230 Cys Gln Gln Leu Gly Arg Gly Tyr Val Cys Leu Cys Pro Pro Gly 1235 1240 1245 Tyr Thr Gly Leu Lys Cys Glu Thr Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys Ser Ser 1250 1255 1260 Leu Pro Cys Leu Asn Gly Gly Ile Cys Arg Asp Gln Val Gly Gly 1265 1270 1275 Phe Thr Cys Glu Cys Ser Leu Gly Tyr Ser Gly Gln Ile Cys Glu 1280 1285 1290 Glu Asn Ile Asn Glu Cys Ile Ser Ser Pro Cys Leu Asn Lys Gly 1295 1300 1305 Thr Cys Thr Asp Gly Leu Ala Ser Tyr Arg Cys Thr Cys Val Lys 1310 1315 1320 Gly Tyr Met Gly Val His Cys Glu Thr Asp Val Asn Glu Cys Gln 1325 1330 1335 Ser Ser Pro Cys Leu Asn Asn Ala Val Cys Lys Asp Gln Val Gly 1340 1345 1350 Gly Phe Ser Cys Lys Cys Pro Pro Gly Phe Leu Gly Thr Arg Cys 1355 1360 1365 Glu Lys Asn Val Asp Glu Cys Leu Ser Gln Pro Cys Gln Asn Gly 1370 1375 1380 Ala Thr Cys Lys Asp Gly Ala Asn Ser Phe Arg Cys Gln Cys Pro 1385 1390 1395 Ala Gly Phe Thr Gly Thr His Cys Glu Leu Asn Ile Asn Glu Cys 1400 1405 1410 Gln Ser Asn Pro Cys Arg Asn Gln Ala Thr Cys Val Asp Glu Leu 1415 1420 1425 Asn Ser Tyr Ser Cys Lys Cys Gln Pro Gly Phe Ser Gly His Arg 1430 1435 1440 Cys Glu Thr Glu Gln Pro Ser Gly Phe Asn Leu Asp Phe Glu Val 1445 1450 1455 Ser Gly Ile Tyr Gly Tyr Val Leu Leu Asp Gly Val Leu Pro Thr 1460 1465 1470 Leu His Ala Val Thr Cys Ala Phe Trp Met Lys Ser Ser Asp Val 1475 1480 1485 Ile Asn Tyr Gly Thr Pro Ile Ser Tyr Ala Leu Glu Asp Asp Lys 1490 1495 1500 Asp Asn Thr Phe Leu Leu Thr Asp Tyr Asn Gly Trp Val Leu Tyr 1505 1510 1515 Val Asn Gly Lys Glu Lys Ile Thr Asn Cys Pro Ser Val Asn Asp 1520 1525 1530 Gly Ile Trp His His Ile Ala Ile Thr Trp Thr Ser Ile Gly Gly 1535 1540 1545 Ala Trp Arg Val Tyr Ile Asp Gly Glu Leu Ser Asp Gly Gly Thr 1550 1555 1560 Gly Leu Ser Ile Gly Lys Ala Ile Pro Gly Gly Gly Ala Leu Val 1565 1570 1575 Leu Gly Gln Glu Gln Asp Lys Lys Gly Glu Gly Phe Asn Pro Ala 1580 1585 1590 Glu Ser Phe Val Gly Ser Ile Ser Gln Leu Asn Leu Trp Asp Tyr 1595 1600 1605 Val Leu Ser Pro Gln Gln Val Lys Leu Leu Ala Ser Ser Cys Pro 1610 1615 1620 Glu Glu Leu Ser Arg Gly Asn Val Leu Ala Trp Pro Asp Phe Leu 1625 1630 1635 Ser Gly Ile Thr Gly Lys Val Lys Val Asp Ser Ser Ser Met Phe 1640 1645 1650 Cys Ser Asp Cys Pro Ser Leu Glu Gly Ser Val Pro His Leu Arg 1655 1660 1665 Pro Ala Ser Gly Asn Arg Lys Pro Gly Ser Lys Val Ser Leu Phe 1670 1675 1680 Cys Asp Pro Gly Phe Gln Met Val Gly Asn Pro Val Gln Tyr Cys 1685 1690 1695 Leu Asn Gln Gly Gln Trp Thr Gln Pro Leu Pro His Cys Glu Arg 1700 1705 1710 Ile Arg Cys Gly Leu Pro Pro Ala Leu Glu Asn Gly Phe Tyr Ser 1715 1720 1725 Ala Glu Asp Phe His Ala Gly Ser Thr Val Thr Tyr Gln Cys Thr 1730 1735 1740 Ser Gly Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Gly Asp Ser Arg Met Phe Cys Xaa Asp 1745 1750 1755 Asn Gly Ser Trp Asn Gly Ile Ser Pro Ser Cys Leu Asp Val Asp 1760 1765 1770 Glu Cys Ala Val Gly Ser Asp Cys Ser Glu His Ala Ser Cys Leu 1775 1780 1785 Asn Thr Asn Gly Ser Tyr Val Cys Ser Cys Asn Pro Pro Tyr Thr 1790 1795 1800 Gly Asp Gly Lys Asn Cys Ala Glu Pro Val Lys Cys Lys Ala Pro 1805 1810 1815 Glu Asn Pro Glu Asn Gly Arg Ser Ser Gly Glu Ile Tyr Thr Val 1820 1825 1830 Gly Thr Ala Val Thr Phe Ser Cys Asp Glu Gly His Glu Leu Val 1835 1840 1845 Gly Val Ser Thr Ile Thr Cys Leu Glu Thr Gly Glu Trp Asp Arg 1850 1855 1860 Leu Arg Pro Ser Cys Glu Ala Ile Ser Cys Gly Val Pro Pro Val 1865 1870 1875 Pro Glu Asn Gly Gly Val Asp Gly Ser Ala Phe Thr Tyr Gly Ser 1880 1885 1890 Lys Val Val Tyr Arg Cys Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Leu Ser Gly Asp 1895 1900 1905 Glu Glu Ser Ala Cys Leu Ala Ser Gly Ser Trp Ser His Ser Ser 1910 1915 1920 Pro Val Cys Gly Leu Val Lys Cys Ser Gln Pro Glu Asp Ile Asn 1925 1930 1935 Asn Gly Lys Tyr Ile Leu Ser Gly Leu Thr Tyr Leu Ser Ile Ala 1940 1945 1950 Ser Tyr Ser Cys Glu Asn Gly Tyr Ser Leu Gln Gly Pro Ser Leu 1955 1960 1965 Leu Glu Cys Thr Ala Ser Gly Ser Trp Asp Arg Ala Pro Pro Ser 1970 1975 1980 Cys Gln Leu Val Ser Cys Gly Glu Pro Pro Ile Val Lys Asp Ala 1985 1990 1995 Val Ile Thr Gly Ser Asn Phe Thr Phe Gly Asn Thr Val Ala Tyr 2000 2005 2010 Thr Cys Lys Glu Gly Tyr Thr Leu Ala Gly Pro Asp Thr Ile Ile 2015 2020 2025 Cys Gln Ala Asn Gly Lys Trp Asn Ser Ser Asn His Gln Cys Leu 2030 2035 2040 Ala Val Ser Cys Asp Glu Pro Pro Asn Val Asp His Ala Ser Pro 2045 2050 2055 Glu Thr Ala His Arg Leu Phe Gly Asp Thr Ala Phe Tyr Tyr Cys 2060 2065 2070 Ala Asp Gly Tyr Ser Leu Ala Asp Asn Ser Gln Leu Ile Cys Asn 2075 2080 2085 Ala Gln Gly Asn Trp Val Pro Pro Ala Gly Gln Ala Val Pro Arg 2090 2095 2100 Cys Ile Ala His Phe Cys Glu Lys Pro Pro Ser Val Ser Tyr Ser 2105 2110 2115 Ile Leu Glu Ser Val Ser Lys Ala Lys Phe Ala Ala Gly Ser Val 2120 2125 2130 Val Ser Phe Lys Cys Met Glu Gly Phe Val Leu Asn Thr Ser Ala 2135 2140 2145 Lys Ile Glu Cys Leu Arg Gly Gly Glu Trp Ser Pro Ser Pro Leu 2150 2155 2160 Ser Val Gln Cys Ile Pro Val Arg Cys Gly Glu Pro Pro Ser Ile 2165 2170 2175 Ala Asn Gly Tyr Pro Ser Gly Thr Asn Tyr Ser Phe Gly Ala Val 2180 2185 2190 Val Ala Tyr Ser Cys His Lys Gly Phe Tyr Ile Lys Gly Glu Lys 2195 2200 2205 Lys Ser Thr Cys Glu Ala Thr Gly Gln Trp Ser Lys Pro Thr Pro 2210 2215 2220 Thr Cys His Pro Val Ser Cys Asn Glu Pro Pro Lys Val Glu Asn 2225 2230 2235 Gly Phe Leu Glu His Thr Thr Gly Arg Thr Phe Glu Ser Glu Ala 2240 2245 2250 Arg Phe Gln Cys Asn Pro Gly Tyr Lys Ala Ala Gly Ser Pro Val 2255 2260 2265 Phe Val Cys Gln Ala Asn Arg His Trp His Ser Asp Ala Pro Leu 2270 2275 2280 Ser Cys Thr Pro Leu Asn Cys Gly Lys Pro Pro Pro Ile Gln Asn 2285 2290 2295 Gly Phe Leu Lys Gly Glu Ser Phe Glu Val Gly Ser Lys Val Gln 2300 2305 2310 Phe Val Cys Asn Glu Gly Tyr Glu Leu Val Gly Asp Asn Ser Trp 2315 2320 2325 Thr Cys Gln Lys Ser Gly Lys Trp Ser Lys Lys Pro Ser Pro Lys 2330 2335 2340 Cys Val Pro Thr Lys Cys Ala Glu Pro Pro Leu Leu Glu Asn Gln 2345 2350 2355 Leu Val Leu Lys Glu Leu Ala Ser Glu Val Gly Val Met Thr Ile 2360 2365 2370 Ser Cys Lys Glu Gly His Ala Leu Gln Gly Pro Ser Val Leu Lys 2375 2380 2385 Cys Leu Pro Ser Gly Gln Trp Asn Gly Ser Phe Pro Ile Cys Lys 2390 2395 2400 Met Val Leu Cys Pro Ser Pro Pro Leu Ile Pro Phe Gly Val Pro 2405 2410 2415 Ala Ser Ser Gly Ala Leu His Phe Gly Ser Thr Val Lys Tyr Leu 2420 2425 2430 Cys Val Asp Gly Phe Phe Leu Arg Gly Ser Pro Thr Ile Leu Cys 2435 2440 2445 Gln Ala Asp Ser Thr Trp Ser Ser Pro Leu Pro Glu Cys Val Pro 2450 2455 2460 Val Glu Cys Pro Gln Pro Glu Glu Ile Leu Asn Gly Ile Ile His 2465 2470 2475 Val Gln Gly Leu Ala Tyr Leu Ser Thr Thr Leu Tyr Thr Cys Lys 2480 2485 2490 Pro Gly Phe Glu Leu Val Gly Asn Ala Thr Thr Leu Cys Gly Glu 2495 2500 2505 Asn Gly Gln Trp Leu Gly Gly Lys Pro Met Cys Lys Pro Ile Glu 2510 2515 2520 Cys Pro Glu Pro Lys Glu Ile Leu Asn Gly Gln Phe Ser Ser Val 2525 2530 2535 Ser Phe Gln Tyr Gly Gln Thr Ile Thr Tyr Phe Cys Asp Arg Gly 2540 2545 2550 Phe Arg Leu Glu Gly Pro Lys Ser Leu Thr Cys Leu Glu Thr Gly 2555 2560 2565 Asp Trp Asp Met Asp Pro Pro Ser Cys Asp Ala Ile His Cys Ser 2570 2575 2580 Asp Pro Gln Pro Ile Glu Asn Gly Phe Val Glu Gly Ala Asp Tyr 2585 2590 2595 Arg Tyr Gly Ala Met Ile Ile Tyr Ser Cys Phe Pro Gly Phe Gln 2600 2605 2610 Val Leu Gly His Ala Met Gln Thr Cys Glu Glu Ser Gly Trp Ser 2615 2620 2625 Ser Ser Ser Pro Thr Cys Val Pro Ile Asp Cys Gly Leu Pro Pro 2630 2635 2640 His Ile Asp Phe Gly Asp Cys Thr Lys Val Arg Asp Gly Gln Gly 2645 2650 2655 His Phe Asp Gln Glu Asp Asp Met Met Glu Val Pro Tyr Leu Ala 2660 2665 2670 His Pro Gln His Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Lys Ala Leu Glu Asn Thr 2675 2680 2685 Lys Glu Ser Pro Ala Ser His Ala Ser His Phe Leu Tyr Gly Thr 2690 2695 2700 Met Val Ser Tyr Ser Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr Glu Leu Leu Gly Ile 2705 2710 2715 Pro Val Leu Ile Cys Gln Glu Asp Gly Thr Trp Asn Gly Thr Ala 2720 2725 2730 Pro Ser Cys Ile Ser Ile Glu Cys Asp Leu Pro Val Ala Pro Glu 2735 2740 2745 Asn Gly Phe Leu His Phe Thr Gln Thr Thr Met Gly Ser Ala Ala 2750 2755 2760 Gln Tyr Ser Cys Lys Pro Gly His Ile Leu Glu Gly Ser His Leu 2765 2770 2775 Arg Leu Cys Leu Gln Asn Lys Gln Trp Ser Gly Thr Val Pro Arg 2780 2785 2790 Cys Glu Ala Ile Ser Cys Ser Lys Pro Asn Pro Leu Trp Asn Gly 2795 2800 2805 Ser Ile Lys Gly Asp Asp Tyr Ser Tyr Leu Gly Val Leu Tyr Tyr 2810 2815 2820 Glu Cys Asp Ser Gly Tyr Ile Leu Asn Gly Ser Lys Lys Arg Thr 2825 2830 2835 Cys Gln Glu Asn Arg Asp Trp Asp Gly His Glu Pro Met Cys Ile 2840 2845 2850 Pro Val Asp Cys Gly Ser Pro Pro Val Pro Thr Asn Gly Arg Val 2855 2860 2865 Lys Gly Glu Glu Tyr Thr Phe Gln Lys Glu Ile Thr Tyr Ser Cys 2870 2875 2880 Arg Glu Gly Phe Ile Leu Glu Gly Ala Arg Ser Arg Ile Cys Leu 2885 2890 2895 Thr Asn Gly Ser Trp Ser Gly Ala Thr Pro Ser Cys Met Pro Val 2900 2905 2910 Arg Cys Pro Ala Pro Pro Gln Val Pro Asn Gly Val Ala Asp Gly 2915 2920 2925 Leu Asp Tyr Gly Phe Lys Lys Glu Val Ala Phe His Cys Leu Glu 2930 2935 2940 Gly Tyr Val Leu Gln Gly Ala Pro Arg Leu Thr Cys Gln Ser Asn 2945 2950 2955 Gly Thr Trp Asp Ala Glu Val Pro Val Cys Lys Pro Ala Thr Cys 2960 2965 2970 Gly Pro Pro Ala Asp Leu Pro Gln Gly Phe Pro Asn Gly Phe Ser 2975 2980 2985 Phe Tyr His Gly Gly His Ile Gln Tyr Gln Cys Phe Thr Gly Tyr 2990 2995 3000 Lys Leu His Gly Asn Pro Ser Arg Arg Cys Leu Pro Asn Gly Ser 3005 3010 3015 Trp Ser Gly Ser Ser Pro Ser Cys Leu Pro Cys Arg Cys Ser Thr 3020 3025 3030 Pro Ile Ile Gln Gln Gly Thr Ile Asn Ala Thr Asp Leu Gly Cys 3035 3040 3045 Gly Lys Thr Val Gln Ile Glu Cys Phe Lys Gly Phe Lys Leu Leu 3050 3055 3060 Gly Leu Ser Glu Ile Thr Cys Asp Ala Asn Gly Gln Trp Ser Asp 3065 3070 3075 Val Pro Leu Cys Glu His Ala Gln Cys Gly Pro Leu Pro Thr Ile 3080 3085 3090 Pro Asn Ala Ile Val Leu Glu Gly Ser Leu Ser Glu Asp Asn Val 3095 3100 3105 Val Thr Tyr Ser Cys Arg Pro Gly Tyr Thr Met Gln Gly Ser Ser 3110 3115 3120 Asp Leu Ile Cys Thr Glu Lys Ala Ile Trp Ser Gln Pro Tyr Pro 3125 3130 3135 Thr Cys Glu Pro Leu Ser Cys Gly Pro Pro Pro Thr Val Ala Asn 3140 3145 3150 Ala Val Ala Thr Gly Glu Ala His Thr Tyr Glu Ser Lys Val Lys 3155 3160 3165 Leu Arg Cys Leu Glu Gly Tyr Val Met Asp Ser Asp Thr Asp Thr 3170 3175 3180 Phe Thr Cys Gln Gln Asp Gly His Trp Val Pro Glu Arg Ile Thr 3185 3190 3195 Cys Ser Pro Lys Lys Cys Pro Val Pro Ser Asn Met Thr Arg Ile 3200 3205 3210 Arg Phe His Gly Asp Asp Phe Gln Val Asn Arg Gln Val Ser Val 3215 3220 3225 Ser Cys Ala Glu Gly Phe Thr His Glu Gly Val Asn Trp Ser Thr 3230 3235 3240 Cys Gln Pro Asp Gly Thr Trp Glu Pro Pro Phe Ser Asp Glu Ser 3245 3250 3255 Cys Ile Pro Val Val Cys Gly His Pro Glu Ser Pro Ala His Gly 3260 3265 3270 Ser Val Val Gly Asn Lys His Ser Phe Gly Ser Thr Ile Val Tyr 3275 3280 3285 Gln Cys Asp Pro Gly Tyr Lys Leu Glu Gly Asn Arg Glu Arg Ile 3290 3295 3300 Cys Gln Glu Asn Arg Gln Trp Ser Gly Glu Val Ala Val Cys Arg 3305 3310 3315 Glu Asn Arg Cys Glu Thr Pro Ala Glu Phe Pro Asn Gly Lys Ala 3320 3325 3330 Val Leu Glu Asn Thr Thr Ser Gly Pro Ser Leu Leu Phe Ser Cys 3335 3340 3345 His Arg Gly Tyr Thr Leu Glu Gly Ser Pro Glu Ala His Cys Thr 3350 3355 3360 Ala Asn Gly Thr Trp Asn His Leu Thr Pro Leu Cys Lys Pro Asn 3365 3370 3375 Pro Cys Pro Val Pro Phe Val Ile Pro Glu Asn Ala Val Leu Ser 3380 3385 3390 Glu Lys Glu Phe Tyr Val Asp Gln Asn Val Ser Ile Lys Cys Arg 3395 3400 3405 Glu Gly Phe Leu Leu Lys Gly Asn Gly Val Ile Thr Cys Ser Pro 3410 3415 3420 Asp Glu Thr Trp Thr His Thr Asn Ala Arg Cys Glu Lys Ile Ser 3425 3430 3435 Cys Gly Pro Pro Ser His Val Glu Asn Ala Ile Ala Arg Gly Val 3440 3445 3450 Tyr Tyr Gln Tyr Gly Asp Met Ile Thr Tyr Ser Cys Tyr Ser Gly 3455 3460 3465 Tyr Met Leu Glu Gly Ser Leu Arg Ser Val Cys Leu Glu Asn Gly 3470 3475 3480 Thr Trp Thr Pro Ser Pro Val Cys Arg Ala Val Cys Arg Phe Pro 3485 3490 3495 Cys Gln Asn Gly Gly Val Cys Gln Arg Pro Asn Ala Cys Ser Cys 3500 3505 3510 Pro Asp Gly Trp Met Gly Arg Leu Cys Glu Glu Pro Ile Cys Ile 3515 3520 3525 Leu Pro Cys Leu Asn Gly Gly Arg Cys Val Ala Pro Tyr Gln Cys 3530 3535 3540 Asp Cys Pro Thr Gly Trp Thr Gly Ser Arg Cys His Thr Ala Thr 3545 3550 3555 Cys Gln Ser Pro Cys Leu Asn Gly Gly Lys Cys Ile Arg Pro Asn 3560 3565 3570 Arg Cys His Cys Leu Ser Ala Trp Thr Gly His Asp Cys Ser Arg 3575 3580 3585 Lys Arg Arg Ala Gly Leu 3590 5 2489 PRT Homo sapiens 5 Met Gly Ala Ser Ser Pro Arg Ser Pro Glu Pro Val Gly Pro Pro Ala 1 5 10 15 Pro Gly Leu Pro Phe Cys Cys Gly Gly Ser Leu Leu Ala Val Val Val 20 25 30 Leu Leu Ala Leu Pro Val Ala Trp Gly Gln Cys Asn Ala Pro Glu Trp 35 40 45 Leu Pro Phe Ala Arg Pro Thr Asn Leu Thr Asp Glu Phe Glu Phe Pro 50 55 60 Ile Gly Thr Tyr Leu Asn Tyr Glu Cys Arg Pro Gly Tyr Ser Gly Arg 65 70 75 80 Pro Phe Ser Ile Ile Cys Leu Lys Asn Ser Val Trp Thr Gly Ala Lys 85 90 95 Asp Arg Cys Arg Arg Lys Ser Cys Arg Asn Pro Pro Asp Pro Val Asn 100 105 110 Gly Met Val His Val Ile Lys Gly Ile Gln Phe Gly Ser Gln Ile Lys 115 120 125 Tyr Ser Cys Thr Lys Gly Tyr Arg Leu Ile Gly Ser Ser Ser Ala Thr 130 135 140 Cys Ile Ile Ser Gly Asp Thr Val Ile Trp Asp Asn Glu Thr Pro Ile 145 150 155 160 Cys Asp Arg Ile Pro Cys Gly Leu Pro Pro Thr Ile Thr Asn Gly Asp 165 170 175 Phe Ile Ser Thr Asn Arg Glu Asn Phe His Tyr Gly Ser Val Val Thr 180 185 190 Tyr Arg Cys Asn Pro Gly Ser Gly Gly Arg Lys Val Phe Glu Leu Val 195 200 205 Gly Glu Pro Ser Ile Tyr Cys Thr Ser Asn Asp Asp Gln Val Gly Ile 210 215 220 Trp Ser Gly Pro Ala Pro Gln Cys Ile Ile Pro Asn Lys Cys Thr Pro 225 230 235 240 Pro Asn Val Glu Asn Gly Ile Leu Val Ser Asp Asn Arg Ser Leu Phe 245 250 255 Ser Leu Asn Glu Val Val Glu Phe Arg Cys Gln Pro Gly Phe Val Met 260 265 270 Lys Gly Pro Arg Arg Val Lys Cys Gln Ala Leu Asn Lys Trp Glu Pro 275 280 285 Glu Leu Pro Ser Cys Ser Arg Val Cys Gln Pro Pro Pro Asp Val Leu 290 295 300 His Ala Glu Arg Thr Gln Arg Asp Lys Asp Asn Phe Ser Pro Gly Gln 305 310 315 320 Glu Val Phe Tyr Ser Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr Asp Leu Arg Gly Ala Ala 325 330 335 Ser Met Arg Cys Thr Pro Gln Gly Asp Trp Ser Pro Ala Ala Pro Thr 340 345 350 Cys Glu Val Lys Ser Cys Asp Asp Phe Met Gly Gln Leu Leu Asn Gly 355 360 365 Arg Val Leu Phe Pro Val Asn Leu Gln Leu Gly Ala Lys Val Asp Phe 370 375 380 Val Cys Asp Glu Gly Phe Gln Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Ala Ser Tyr Cys 385 390 395 400 Val Leu Ala Gly Met Glu Ser Leu Trp Asn Ser Ser Val Pro Val Cys 405 410 415 Glu Gln Ile Phe Cys Pro Ser Pro Pro Val Ile Pro Asn Gly Arg His 420 425 430 Thr Gly Lys Pro Leu Glu Val Phe Pro Phe Gly Lys Ala Val Asn Tyr 435 440 445 Thr Cys Asp Pro His Pro Asp Arg Gly Thr Ser Phe Asp Leu Ile Gly 450 455 460 Glu Ser Thr Ile Arg Cys Thr Ser Asp Pro Gln Gly Asn Gly Val Trp 465 470 475 480 Ser Ser Pro Ala Pro Arg Cys Gly Ile Leu Gly His Cys Gln Ala Pro 485 490 495 Asp His Phe Leu Phe Ala Lys Leu Lys Thr Gln Thr Asn Ala Ser Asp 500 505 510 Phe Pro Ile Gly Thr Ser Leu Lys Tyr Glu Cys Arg Pro Glu Tyr Tyr 515 520 525 Gly Arg Pro Phe Ser Ile Thr Cys Leu Asp Asn Leu Val Trp Ser Ser 530 535 540 Pro Lys Asp Val Cys Lys Arg Lys Ser Cys Lys Thr Pro Pro Asp Pro 545 550 555 560 Val Asn Gly Met Val His Val Ile Thr Asp Ile Gln Val Gly Ser Arg 565 570 575 Ile Asn Tyr Ser Cys Thr Thr Gly His Arg Leu Ile Gly His Ser Ser 580 585 590 Ala Glu Cys Ile Leu Ser Gly Asn Ala Ala His Trp Ser Thr Lys Pro 595 600 605 Pro Ile Cys Gln Arg Ile Pro Cys Gly Leu Pro Pro Thr Ile Ala Asn 610 615 620 Gly Asp Phe Ile Ser Thr Asn Arg Glu Asn Phe His Tyr Gly Ser Val 625 630 635 640 Val Thr Tyr Arg Cys Asn Pro Gly Ser Gly Gly Arg Lys Val Phe Glu 645 650 655 Leu Val Gly Glu Pro Ser Ile Tyr Cys Thr Ser Asn Asp Asp Gln Val 660 665 670 Gly Ile Trp Ser Gly Pro Ala Pro Gln Cys Ile Ile Pro Asn Lys Cys 675 680 685 Thr Pro Pro Asn Val Glu Asn Gly Ile Leu Val Ser Asp Asn Arg Ser 690 695 700 Leu Phe Ser Leu Asn Glu Val Val Glu Phe Arg Cys Gln Pro Gly Phe 705 710 715 720 Val Met Lys Gly Pro Arg Arg Val Lys Cys Gln Ala Leu Asn Lys Trp 725 730 735 Glu Pro Glu Leu Pro Ser Cys Ser Arg Val Cys Gln Pro Pro Pro Asp 740 745 750 Val Leu His Ala Glu Arg Thr Gln Arg Asp Lys Asp Asn Phe Ser Pro 755 760 765 Gly Gln Glu Val Phe Tyr Ser Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr Asp Leu Arg Gly 770 775 780 Ala Ala Ser Met Arg Cys Thr Pro Gln Gly Asp Trp Ser Pro Ala Ala 785 790 795 800 Pro Thr Cys Glu Val Lys Ser Cys Asp Asp Phe Met Gly Gln Leu Leu 805 810 815 Asn Gly Arg Val Leu Phe Pro Val Asn Leu Gln Leu Gly Ala Lys Val 820 825 830 Asp Phe Val Cys Asp Glu Gly Phe Gln Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Ala Ser 835 840 845 Tyr Cys Val Leu Ala Gly Met Glu Ser Leu Trp Asn Ser Ser Val Pro 850 855 860 Val Cys Glu Gln Ile Phe Cys Pro Ser Pro Pro Val Ile Pro Asn Gly 865 870 875 880 Arg His Thr Gly Lys Pro Leu Glu Val Phe Pro Phe Gly Lys Thr Val 885 890 895 Asn Tyr Thr Cys Asp Pro His Pro Asp Arg Gly Thr Ser Phe Asp Leu 900 905 910 Ile Gly Glu Ser Thr Ile Arg Cys Thr Ser Asp Pro Gln Gly Asn Gly 915 920 925 Val Trp Ser Ser Pro Ala Pro Arg Cys Gly Ile Leu Gly His Cys Gln 930 935 940 Ala Pro Asp His Phe Leu Phe Ala Lys Leu Lys Thr Gln Thr Asn Ala 945 950 955 960 Ser Asp Phe Pro Ile Gly Thr Ser Leu Lys Tyr Glu Cys Arg Pro Glu 965 970 975 Tyr Tyr Gly Arg Pro Phe Ser Ile Thr Cys Leu Asp Asn Leu Val Trp 980 985 990 Ser Ser Pro Lys Asp Val Cys Lys Arg Lys Ser Cys Lys Thr Pro Pro 995 1000 1005 Asp Pro Val Asn Gly Met Val His Val Ile Thr Asp Ile Gln Val 1010 1015 1020 Gly Ser Arg Ile Asn Tyr Ser Cys Thr Thr Gly His Arg Leu Ile 1025 1030 1035 Gly His Ser Ser Ala Glu Cys Ile Leu Ser Gly Asn Ala Ala His 1040 1045 1050 Trp Ser Thr Lys Pro Pro Ile Cys Gln Arg Ile Pro Cys Gly Leu 1055 1060 1065 Pro Pro Thr Ile Ala Asn Gly Asp Phe Ile Ser Thr Asn Arg Glu 1070 1075 1080 Asn Phe His Tyr Gly Ser Val Val Thr Tyr Arg Cys Asn Pro Gly 1085 1090 1095 Ser Gly Gly Arg Lys Val Phe Glu Leu Val Gly Glu Pro Ser Ile 1100 1105 1110 Tyr Cys Thr Ser Asn Asp Asp Gln Val Gly Ile Trp Ser Gly Pro 1115 1120 1125 Ala Pro Gln Cys Ile Ile Pro Asn Lys Cys Thr Pro Pro Asn Val 1130 1135 1140 Glu Asn Gly Ile Leu Val Ser Asp Asn Arg Ser Leu Phe Ser Leu 1145 1150 1155 Asn Glu Val Val Glu Phe Arg Cys Gln Pro Gly Phe Val Met Lys 1160 1165 1170 Gly Pro Arg Arg Val Lys Cys Gln Ala Leu Asn Lys Trp Glu Pro 1175 1180 1185 Glu Leu Pro Ser Cys Ser Arg Val Cys Gln Pro Pro Pro Asp Val 1190 1195 1200 Leu His Ala Glu Arg Thr Gln Arg Asp Lys Asp Asn Phe Ser Pro 1205 1210 1215 Gly Gln Glu Val Phe Tyr Ser Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr Asp Leu Arg 1220 1225 1230 Gly Ala Ala Ser Met Arg Cys Thr Pro Gln Gly Asp Trp Ser Pro 1235 1240 1245 Ala Ala Pro Thr Cys Glu Val Lys Ser Cys Asp Asp Phe Met Gly 1250 1255 1260 Gln Leu Leu Asn Gly Arg Val Leu Phe Pro Val Asn Leu Gln Leu 1265 1270 1275 Gly Ala Lys Val Asp Phe Val Cys Asp Glu Gly Phe Gln Leu Lys 1280 1285 1290 Gly Ser Ser Ala Ser Tyr Cys Val Leu Ala Gly Met Glu Ser Leu 1295 1300 1305 Trp Asn Ser Ser Val Pro Val Cys Glu Gln Ile Phe Cys Pro Ser 1310 1315 1320 Pro Pro Val Ile Pro Asn Gly Arg His Thr Gly Lys Pro Leu Glu 1325 1330 1335 Val Phe Pro Phe Gly Lys Ala Val Asn Tyr Thr Cys Asp Pro His 1340 1345 1350 Pro Asp Arg Gly Thr Ser Phe Asp Leu Ile Gly Glu Ser Thr Ile 1355 1360 1365 Arg Cys Thr Ser Asp Pro Gln Gly Asn Gly Val Trp Ser Ser Pro 1370 1375 1380 Ala Pro Arg Cys Gly Ile Leu Gly His Cys Gln Ala Pro Asp His 1385 1390 1395 Phe Leu Phe Ala Lys Leu Lys Thr Gln Thr Asn Ala Ser Asp Phe 1400 1405 1410 Pro Ile Gly Thr Ser Leu Lys Tyr Glu Cys Arg Pro Glu Tyr Tyr 1415 1420 1425 Gly Arg Pro Phe Ser Ile Thr Cys Leu Asp Asn Leu Val Trp Ser 1430 1435 1440 Ser Pro Lys Asp Val Cys Lys Arg Lys Ser Cys Lys Thr Pro Pro 1445 1450 1455 Asp Pro Val Asn Gly Met Val His Val Ile Thr Asp Ile Gln Val 1460 1465 1470 Gly Ser Arg Ile Asn Tyr Ser Cys Thr Thr Gly His Arg Leu Ile 1475 1480 1485 Gly His Ser Ser Ala Glu Cys Ile Leu Ser Gly Asn Thr Ala His 1490 1495 1500 Trp Ser Thr Lys Pro Pro Ile Cys Gln Arg Ile Pro Cys Gly Leu 1505 1510 1515 Pro Pro Thr Ile Ala Asn Gly Asp Phe Ile Ser Thr Asn Arg Glu 1520 1525 1530 Asn Phe His Tyr Gly Ser Val Val Thr Tyr Arg Cys Asn Leu Gly 1535 1540 1545 Ser Arg Gly Arg Lys Val Phe Glu Leu Val Gly Glu Pro Ser Ile 1550 1555 1560 Tyr Cys Thr Ser Asn Asp Asp Gln Val Gly Ile Trp Ser Gly Pro 1565 1570 1575 Ala Pro Gln Cys Ile Ile Pro Asn Lys Cys Thr Pro Pro Asn Val 1580 1585 1590 Glu Asn Gly Ile Leu Val Ser Asp Asn Arg Ser Leu Phe Ser Leu 1595 1600 1605 Asn Glu Val Val Glu Phe Arg Cys Gln Pro Gly Phe Val Met Lys 1610 1615 1620 Gly Pro Arg Arg Val Lys Cys Gln Ala Leu Asn Lys Trp Glu Pro 1625 1630 1635 Glu Leu Pro Ser Cys Ser Arg Val Cys Gln Pro Pro Pro Glu Ile 1640 1645 1650 Leu His Gly Glu His Thr Pro Ser His Gln Asp Asn Phe Ser Pro 1655 1660 1665 Gly Gln Glu Val Phe Tyr Ser Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr Asp Leu Arg 1670 1675 1680 Gly Ala Ala Ser Leu His Cys Thr Pro Gln Gly Asp Trp Ser Pro 1685 1690 1695 Glu Ala Pro Arg Cys Ala Val Lys Ser Cys Asp Asp Phe Leu Gly 1700 1705 1710 Gln Leu Pro His Gly Arg Val Leu Phe Pro Leu Asn Leu Gln Leu 1715 1720 1725 Gly Ala Lys Val Ser Phe Val Cys Asp Glu Gly Phe Arg Leu Lys 1730 1735 1740 Gly Ser Ser Val Ser His Cys Val Leu Val Gly Met Arg Ser Leu 1745 1750 1755 Trp Asn Asn Ser Val Pro Val Cys Glu His Ile Phe Cys Pro Asn 1760 1765 1770 Pro Pro Ala Ile Leu Asn Gly Arg His Thr Gly Thr Pro Ser Gly 1775 1780 1785 Asp Ile Pro Tyr Gly Lys Glu Ile Ser Tyr Thr Cys Asp Pro His 1790 1795 1800 Pro Asp Arg Gly Met Thr Phe Asn Leu Ile Gly Glu Ser Thr Ile 1805 1810 1815 Arg Cys Thr Ser Asp Pro His Gly Asn Gly Val Trp Ser Ser Pro 1820 1825 1830 Ala Pro Arg Cys Glu Leu Ser Val Arg Ala Gly His Cys Lys Thr 1835 1840 1845 Pro Glu Gln Phe Pro Phe Ala Ser Pro Thr Ile Pro Ile Asn Asp 1850 1855 1860 Phe Glu Phe Pro Val Gly Thr Ser Leu Asn Tyr Glu Cys Arg Pro 1865 1870 1875 Gly Tyr Phe Gly Lys Met Phe Ser Ile Ser Cys Leu Glu Asn Leu 1880 1885 1890 Val Trp Ser Ser Val Glu Asp Asn Cys Arg Arg Lys Ser Cys Gly 1895 1900 1905 Pro Pro Pro Glu Pro Phe Asn Gly Met Val His Ile Asn Thr Asp 1910 1915 1920 Thr Gln Phe Gly Ser Thr Val Asn Tyr Ser Cys Asn Glu Gly Phe 1925 1930 1935 Arg Leu Ile Gly Ser Pro Ser Thr Thr Cys Leu Val Ser Gly Asn 1940 1945 1950 Asn Val Thr Trp Asp Lys Lys Ala Pro Ile Cys Glu Ile Ile Ser 1955 1960 1965 Cys Glu Pro Pro Pro Thr Ile Ser Asn Gly Asp Phe Tyr Ser Asn 1970 1975 1980 Asn Arg Thr Ser Phe His Asn Gly Thr Val Val Thr Tyr Gln Cys 1985 1990 1995 His Thr Gly Pro Asp Gly Glu Gln Leu Phe Glu Leu Val Gly Glu 2000 2005 2010 Arg Ser Ile Tyr Cys Thr Ser Lys Asp Asp Gln Val Gly Val Trp 2015 2020 2025 Ser Ser Pro Pro Pro Arg Cys Ile Ser Thr Asn Lys Cys Thr Ala 2030 2035 2040 Pro Glu Val Glu Asn Ala Ile Arg Val Pro Gly Asn Arg Ser Phe 2045 2050 2055 Phe Ser Leu Thr Glu Ile Val Arg Phe Arg Cys Gln Pro Gly Phe 2060 2065 2070 Val Met Val Gly Ser His Thr Val Gln Cys Gln Thr Asn Gly Arg 2075 2080 2085 Trp Gly Pro Lys Leu Pro His Cys Ser Arg Val Cys Gln Pro Pro 2090 2095 2100 Pro Glu Ile Leu His Gly Glu His Thr Leu Ser His Gln Asp Asn 2105 2110 2115 Phe Ser Pro Gly Gln Glu Val Phe Tyr Ser Cys Glu Pro Ser Tyr 2120 2125 2130 Asp Leu Arg Gly Ala Ala Ser Leu His Cys Thr Pro Gln Gly Asp 2135 2140 2145 Trp Ser Pro Glu Ala Pro Arg Cys Thr Val Lys Ser Cys Asp Asp 2150 2155 2160 Phe Leu Gly Gln Leu Pro His Gly Arg Val Leu Leu Pro Leu Asn 2165 2170 2175 Leu Gln Leu Gly Ala Lys Val Ser Phe Val Cys Asp Glu Gly Phe 2180 2185 2190 Arg Leu Lys Gly Arg Ser Ala Ser His Cys Val Leu Ala Gly Met 2195 2200 2205 Lys Ala Leu Trp Asn Ser Ser Val Pro Val Cys Glu Gln Ile Phe 2210 2215 2220 Cys Pro Asn Pro Pro Ala Ile Leu Asn Gly Arg His Thr Gly Thr 2225 2230 2235 Pro Phe Gly Asp Ile Pro Tyr Gly Lys Glu Ile Ser Tyr Ala Cys 2240 2245 2250 Asp Thr His Pro Asp Arg Gly Met Thr Phe Asn Leu Ile Gly Glu 2255 2260 2265 Ser Ser Ile Arg Cys Thr Ser Asp Arg Gln Gly Asn Gly Val Trp 2270 2275 2280 Ser Ser Pro Ala Pro Arg Cys Glu Leu Ser Val Pro Ala Ala Cys 2285 2290 2295 Pro Asp Pro Pro Lys Ile Gln Asn Gly His Tyr Ile Gly Gly His 2300 2305 2310 Val Ser Leu Tyr Leu Pro Gly Met Thr Ile Ser Tyr Ile Cys Asp 2315 2320 2325 Pro Gly Tyr Leu Leu Val Gly Lys Gly Phe Ile Phe Cys Thr Asp 2330 2335 2340 Gln Gly Ile Trp Ser Gln Leu Asp His Tyr Cys Lys Glu Val Asn 2345 2350 2355 Cys Ser Phe Pro Leu Phe Met Asn Gly Ile Ser Lys Glu Leu Glu 2360 2365 2370 Met Lys Lys Val Tyr His Tyr Gly Asp Tyr Val Thr Leu Lys Cys 2375 2380 2385 Glu Asp Gly Tyr Thr Leu Glu Gly Ser Pro Trp Ser Gln Cys Gln 2390 2395 2400 Ala Asp Asp Arg Trp Asp Pro Pro Leu Ala Lys Cys Thr Ser Arg 2405 2410 2415 Ala His Asp Ala Leu Ile Val Gly Thr Leu Ser Gly Thr Ile Phe 2420 2425 2430 Phe Ile Leu Leu Ile Ile Phe Leu Ser Trp Ile Ile Leu Lys His 2435 2440 2445 Arg Lys Gly Asn Asn Ala His Glu Asn Pro Lys Glu Val Ala Ile 2450 2455 2460 His Leu His Ser Gln Gly Gly Ser Ser Val His Pro Arg Thr Leu 2465 2470 2475 Gln Thr Asn Glu Glu Asn Ser Arg Val Leu Pro 2480 2485 

What is claimed:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (c) a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under moderately or highly stringent conditions to the complement of (a) or (b), wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NG: 2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and (d) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of (a)-(c).
 2. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide that is at least about 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99 percent identical to the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding an allelic variant or splice variant of the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (c) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3; (a); or (b) encoding a polypeptide fragment of at least about 25 amino acid residues, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (d) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, or (a)-(c) comprising a fragment of at least about 16 nucleotides; (e) a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under moderately or highly stringent conditions to the complement of any of (a)-(d), wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and (f) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of (a)-(c).
 3. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one conservative amino acid substitution, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one amino acid insertion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one amino acid deletion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 which has a C- and/or N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one modification selected from the group consisting of amino acid substitutions, amino acid insertions, amino acid deletions, C-terminal truncation, and N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (f) a nucleotide sequence of (a)-(e) comprising a fragment of at least about 16 nucleotides; (g) a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under moderately or highly stringent conditions to the complement of any of (a)-(f), wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and (h) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of (a)-(e).
 4. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, 2, or
 3. 5. A host cell comprising the vector of claim
 4. 6. The host cell of claim 5 that is a eukaryotic cell.
 7. The host cell of claim 5 that is a prokaryotic cell.
 8. A process of producing an C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide comprising culturing the host cell of claim 5 under suitable conditions to express the polypeptide, and optionally isolating the polypeptide from the culture.
 9. A polypeptide produced by the process of claim
 8. 10. The process of claim 8, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises promoter DNA other than the promoter DNA for the native C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide operatively linked to the DNA encoding the C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide.
 11. The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 2 wherein the percent identity is determined using a computer program selected from the group consisting of GAP, BLASTP, BLASTN, FASTA, BLASTA, BLASTX, BestFit, and the Smith-Waterman algorithm.
 12. A process for determining whether a compound inhibits C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide activity or production comprising exposing a cell according to claim 5, 6, or 7 to the compound, and measuring C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide activity or production in said cell.
 13. An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 14. An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) an amino acid sequence of the mature C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide wherein the mature polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence as set for the in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, and optionally further comprises an amino-terminal methionine; (b) an amino acid sequence for an ortholog of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the encoded polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (c) an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99 percent identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (d) a fragment of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 comprising at least about 25 amino acid residues, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (e) an amino acid sequence for an allelic variant or splice variant of either the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, or at least one of (a)-(c) wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 15. An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one conservative amino acid substitution, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (b) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one amino acid insertion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (c) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 with at least one amino acid deletion, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; (d) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 which has a C- and/or N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and (e) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, with at least one modification selected from the group consisting of amino acid substitutions, amino acid insertions, amino acid deletions, C-terminal truncation, and N-terminal truncation, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 16. An isolated polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, 2, or
 3. 17. The isolated polypeptide according to claim 14 wherein the percent identity is determined using a computer program selected from the group consisting of GAP, BLASTP, BLASTN, FASTA, BLASTA, BLASTX, BestFit, and the Smith-Waterman algorithm.
 18. An antibody produced by immunizing an animal with a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 19. An antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds the polypeptide of claim 13, 14, or
 15. 20. The antibody of claim 19 that is a monoclonal antibody.
 21. A hybridoma that produces a monoclonal antibody that binds to a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 22. A method of detecting or quantitating the amount of C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide using the anti-C3b/C4b CR-like antibody or fragment of claim 18, 19, or
 20. 23. A selective binding agent or fragment thereof that specifically binds at least one polypeptide wherein said polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: a) the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and b) a fragment of the amino acid sequence set forth in at least one of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4; and c) a naturally occurring variant of (a) or (b).
 24. The selective binding agent of claim 23 that is an antibody or fragment thereof.
 25. The selective binding agent of claim 23 that is a humanized antibody.
 26. The selective binding agent of claim 23 that is a human antibody or fragment thereof.
 27. The selective binding agent of claim 23 that is a polyclonal antibody or fragment thereof.
 28. The selective binding agent claim 23 that is a monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof.
 29. The selective binding agent of claim 23 that is a chimeric antibody or fragment thereof.
 30. The selective binding agent of claim 23 that is a CDR-grafted antibody or fragment thereof.
 31. The selective binding agent of claim 23 that is an antiidiotypic antibody or fragment thereof.
 32. The selective binding agent of claim 23 which is a variable region fragment.
 33. The variable region fragment of claim 32 which is a Fab or a Fab′ fragment.
 34. A selective binding agent or fragment thereof comprising at least one complementarity determining region with specificity for a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 35. The selective binding agent of claim 23 which is bound to a detectable label.
 36. The selective binding agent of claim 23 which antagonizes C3b/C4b CR-like polypeptide biological activity.
 37. A method for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a disease, condition, or disorder comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of a selective binding agent according to claim
 23. 38. A selective binding agent produced by immunizing an animal with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 39. A hybridoma that produces a selective binding agent capable of binding a polypeptide according to claim 1, 2, or
 3. 40. A composition comprising the polypeptide of claim 13, 14, or 15 and a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation agent.
 41. The composition of claim 40 wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable formulation agent is a carrier, adjuvant, solubilizer, stabilizer, or anti-oxidant.
 42. The composition of claim 40 wherein the polypeptide comprises the mature amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 43. A polypeptide comprising a derivative of the polypeptide of claim 13, 14, or
 15. 44. The polypeptide of claim 43 which is covalently modified with a water-soluble polymer.
 45. The polypeptide of claim 44 wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, monomethoxy-polyethylene glycol, dextran, cellulose, poly-(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol homopolymers, polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymers, polyoxyethylated polyols, and polyvinyl alcohol.
 46. A composition comprising a nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, 2, or 3 and a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation agent.
 47. A composition of claim 46 wherein said nucleic acid molecule is contained in a viral vector
 48. A viral vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, 2, or
 3. 49. A fusion polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of claim 13, 14, or 15 fused to a heterologous amino acid sequence.
 50. The fusion polypeptide of claim 49 wherein the heterologous amino acid sequence is an IgG constant domain or fragment thereof.
 51. A method for treating, preventing or ameliorating a medical condition comprising administering to a patient the polypeptide of claim 13, 14, or 15 or the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid of claim 1, 2, or
 3. 52. A method of diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition in a subject comprising: (a) determining the presence or amount of expression of the polypeptide of claim 13, 14, or 15 or the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, 2, or 3 in a sample; and (b) diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition based on the presence or amount of expression of the polypeptide.
 53. A device, comprising: (a) a membrane suitable for implantation; and (b) cells encapsulated within said membrane, wherein said cells secrete a protein of claim 13, 14, or 15, and wherein said membrane is permeable to said protein and impermeable to materials detrimental to said cells.
 54. A method of identifying a compound which binds to a polypeptide comprising: (a) contacting the polypeptide of claim 13, 14, or 15 with a compound; and (b) determining the extent of binding of the polypeptide to the compound.
 55. A method of modulating levels of a polypeptide in an animal comprising administering to the animal the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, 2, or
 3. 56. A transgenic non-human mammal comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, 2, or
 3. 